Not so long ago, many industry watchers dismissed chatbots as an overhyped piece of programming. However, a number of businesses who backed it are reaping the rewards now. Chatbots are already solving a majority of customer service queries across industries and it is estimated that by 2020, they will be handling 80-85 percent of all customer support interactions. If this statistic made you believe that customer service is the only use-case for chatbots, you are not alone. The recent rise in technologies, such as Machine Learning, Data Science, Robotic Process Automation, and Artificial Intelligence, has empowered chatbots to handle more complicated tasks and emulate human behavior more closely.

Grabbing that morning Starbucks fix got a little easier this year, thanks to artificial intelligence. Starbucks launched a new feature in January that allows customers who own iPhones or Amazon Echos to order their coffee through voice-activated assistants. Depending which device they use, customers can also ask check their Starbucks account balances, inquire about seasonal specials and find out which baked treats are available at their local stores. Starbucks has said the use of digital assistants helps it provide more personalized customer experiences. These assistants are also more cost-effective (than the humans who normally would put in customer orders).