Enterprise conversational AI platforms (enterprise CAIPs) are a subset of the larger conversational AI market, commonly referred to as chatbot platforms in media. The enterprise CAIP market, however, focuses on the needs of larger enterprises by targeting multiple use cases, modalities of conversation (i.e., speech, chat, text messaging and email) and the ability to operationalize within the enterprise. Gartner defines the enterprise conversational AI platform market as the market for software applications used to build, orchestrate and support the development of multiple use cases of conversational automation, while targeting multiple roles within the enterprise. Enterprise CAIP enables conversational automation as a strategic enterprise capability.
A virtual customer assistant (VCA) is a business application that simulates a conversation in order to deliver information and, if advanced, takes action on behalf of the customer to perform transactions. Engagement with a VCA is possible via the web, SMS, consumer messaging apps, mobile apps, peer-to-peer communities, kiosks and other web-based or mobile interfaces, and the engagement is text-based. In addition, a VCA can support speech- and text-based engagement in situations where voice processing is enabled. The VCA relies on knowledge repositories and NLP technologies. In some service scenarios, the combination of speech technology and the VCA provides a strong customer service proposition.