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AI Shopping Assistants: 4 Key Metrics to Track

Written by Jason Deng | Sep 13, 2024 2:39:01 PM

Introduction 

In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, staying ahead of the curve is essential. With the buzz around Generative AI, one way merchants are transforming the shopping experience is with AI Shopping Assistants. These digital concierges are revolutionizing the way customers interact with online stores, offering personalized recommendations that can significantly boost sales.

But how do you measure the success of these AI-powered tools? Are they worth the investment? In this blog, we’ll explore the four key metrics you need to track to ensure your AI shopping assistant is delivering optimal results.

What are AI Shopping Assistants? 

AI shopping assistants employ Generative AI to assist customers throughout their online shopping journey. They provide instant answers to product-related questions, offer personalized recommendations, and can help shoppers navigate through the site.

The 4 key metrics for AI Shopping Assistants

When deploying any tool or technology onto your storefront, simply installing it and hoping for the best isn’t enough. Retailers must measure the effectiveness of these tools to understand their impact on site performance and identify improvement opportunities. While many performance metrics exist for e-commerce, these four are essential for evaluating an AI shopping assistant: 

 

1. Engagement Rate

No matter how amazing you program your AI shopping assistant to be, if no one uses it, it won’t benefit your site. Engagement rate measures how frequently customers interact with your AI shopping assistant, typically total # of first clicks over total # of views. High engagement rates indicate that the placement and default state of your AI shopping assistant is drawing attention from shoppers.

2. Conversion Rate

Conversion rate is perhaps the most crucial metric for any e-commerce tool. For AI shopping assistants, this means tracking the percentage of users who make a purchase after interacting with the assistant. A high conversion rate suggests that the assistant is effectively guiding customers towards making a purchase decision.

3. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT)

Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) is a direct indicator of how satisfied customers are with their interaction with the AI assistant. This can be measured through post-interaction surveys where customers rate their experience. High CSAT scores can lead to repeat business and positive word-of-mouth, while low CSAT scores may indicate issues with your AI shopping assistant or that customers aren't finding it useful.

4. Attributed Revenue

Attributed Revenue is a crucial metric for understanding the financial impact of your AI shopping assistant. This metric measures the total revenue generated from customers who interact with the AI assistant, helping you determine how much of your sales can be directly linked to its use. Attributed revenue also plays a key role in calculating Return on Investment (ROI), which is determined by dividing the attributed revenue by its associated costs. ROI helps you assess whether your AI shopping assistant is worth the investment.

How does alby performance stack up?

alby has been a game-changer for many e-commerce businesses. We designed alby as an AI shopping assistant optimized for these key metrics, and we closely monitor them to make product improvements and develop new features. Let’s take a look at how alby’s performance measures up against the key metrics we’ve outlined:

  • Engagement Rate: alby’s average engagement rate is 10%. By embedding directly onto product pages, Alby creates a seamless experience that drives 14x more engagement compared to traditional chatbot shopping assistants.
  • Conversion Rate: Customers who interact with Alby experience a 2x+ lift in conversion rate. This significant boost highlights alby’s ability to ask the right questions and guide customers toward making a purchase.
  • Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT): Post-interaction surveys show that 85% of customers who use Alby rate the experience a 4 or 5 out of 5 🥹.
  • Attributed Revenue/ROI: Attributed revenue varies depending on the size of the storefront (alby serves businesses of all sizes). However, the ROI for Alby is substantial, ranging from 10x to 100x+. This positive ROI demonstrates alby’s value as a profitable addition to a storefront.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of e-commerce, AI shopping assistants like alby are revolutionizing customer interactions and driving significant business growth. By focusing on key performance metrics—Engagement Rate, Conversion Rate, Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT), and Attributed Revenue—retailers can effectively measure and optimize the impact of these AI tools. alby’s impressive performance across these metrics highlights its value in enhancing customer experiences and delivering substantial ROI.