Black Friday is just around the corner: is your e-commerce store ready? A sales chatbot might just be the solution you need.

Black Friday represents a huge opportunity for online retailers, but with so many businesses offering Black Friday deals and discounts, it can be hard to stay competitive.

A Black Friday chatbot is a great way to stand out this year. These virtual sales agents help you differentiate your customer experience and increase sales.

This year's Black Friday sales forecast predicts record high growth

Black Friday is set to be the best we've seen in years. According to estimates shared by Business Insider, total spend for Black Friday weekend is expected to hit $59.6 billion with the best growth since 2011. Many online retailers are gearing up to handle the increased traffic;

In a recent study, 68% of Black Friday shoppers reported that they will be doing most of their buying online.

Sales chatbots are here to help

Black Friday chatbots help companies take advantage of these online buying trends. Many companies are turning to sales chatbots as an alternative to hiring extra seasonal help.

While sales chatbots help reduce operational costs and staffing demands, their value extends far beyond helping companies save money. Chatbots create a personalized shopping experience for customers that drives sales.

The advantages of a virtual sales agent are perhaps most apparent during Black Friday, but they continue throughout the year. Let's take a look at some of the key reasons to adopt a bot for a successful Black Friday and a prosperous 2019.

Black Friday chatbots increase your average basket size

A Black Friday sales chatbot can be built with upselling opportunities in mind. They're great for suggesting related products and items that customers also might like.

A chatbot can tell customers which items are selling fast and are about to run out. This creates a sense of urgency for hesitant buyers and helps move them through the purchase funnel.

Sales chatbots reduce shopping cart abandonment

Cart abandonment is an issue that plagues online retailers all year-round, and Black Friday is no exception.

In 2017, the average cart abandonment rate on Black Friday was 74.5%. This number jumps to 81.1% when looking at mobile-only data.

Many shoppers add items to their cart with the intention of returning when they go on sale. This is particularly evident during Black Friday when customers expect retailers to offer promotions.

A Black Friday sales chatbot can follow up with a person that has left an item in their shopping cart. They can simply check-in, or offer additional incentives to encourage a purchase.

Virtual sales agents also make shopping online less complicated. Cart abandonment is often attributed to difficulties checking out or navigating a website.

A sales chatbot is like a personal assistant that makes friendly and conversational recommendations and suggestions. They facilitate the check out processes, all in a way that feels like shopping with a friend.

Sales chatbots free up human agents for higher-value work

Chatbots help people with exchanges, returns, and frequently asked questions. This frees up human agents to handle more pressing service issues. And, a chatbot can seamlessly hand-off a conversation to a human when it needs to. The result is a high-functioning customer service team that's ready to take on the Black Friday madness.

Virtual sales agents continue to help maximize profits year-round

Your Black Friday chatbot won't pack up and go after the holiday. It delivers long-term value to your customer service team. For chatbots, increasing sales is a 24/7 job that lasts all year-round.