Chat bots for enterprise: Is the business world ready?

In the last year we have seen chat bots take the consumer market by storm and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. Chat bots are add-ons for messenger platforms such as Facebook's Messenger platform or Microsoft's Cortana that provide automated, intelligent responses to questions, mimicking a conversation with a real human being. Brands using chat bots aim to provide users with a seamless experience, enabling them to access services and information directly and instantaneously. The potential gains for big brands are undeniable, but could businesses be using chat bots to get ahead too? And if so, what are the big considerations? Recent research shows that customers have already warmed to the idea of using chat bots to communicate with brands, with many believing they hold the key to speed of service and unlocking immediacy in online stores.