
Raise your hand if you’re a customer service manager who’s tired of:
- dealing with a never-ending flood of customer inquiries
- trying to keep up with the demands of 24/7 support
- and struggling to provide personalized experiences at scale.
Well, my friend, you’re not alone.
Delivering exceptional customer service has become a freakin’ challenge.
But what if I told you that AI could be the messiah you’ve been waiting for?
That’s right.
This blog post is all about the 15 best AI customer service tools that will revolutionize the way you handle customer interactions.
1. Freshdesk
(14-day trial, paid plan starts at $19/month at a yearly billing)
Freshdesk is an AI-powered customer service platform by Freshworks that helps businesses deliver exceptional support across multiple channels.
With Freshdesk, you get an intuitive ticketing system that automatically categorizes and prioritizes customer inquiries based on predefined rules.
Freshdesk comes packed with an AI-powered virtual assistant called Freddy AI.
This bad boy uses natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to understand customer queries and provide instant resolutions.
It can handle repetitive tasks like ticket creation and status updates, freeing up your agents to focus on more complex issues.
One of the coolest features of Freshdesk is its knowledge base. This allows you to create a repository of FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and other support resources.
Freshdesk also offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities. You can track key metrics like response times, resolution rates, and customer satisfaction scores.
Key Features of Freshdesk
- Omnichannel support (email, phone, social media, live chat)
- AI-powered virtual assistant (Freddy AI)
- Intelligent ticket routing and automation
- Knowledge base and self-service portal
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
- Seamless third-party integrations
- Sentiment analysis for personalized support
2. Intercom
(14-day trial, paid plan starts at $39/month)
Intercom is a customer communication platform that uses AI to deliver what they call “AI-first” customer service experiences.
They’ve got this AI chatbot called Fin AI Agent that can answer up to 50% of your customer queries 24/7, across multiple channels like your website, mobile app, you name it.
This chatbot uses natural language processing to give human-like, conversational responses that’ll make your customers feel like they’re talking to a real person.
Intercom also has a feature called Omnichannel Support, which means your customers can reach out to you through their preferred channels like email, SMS, or even carrier pigeons (just kidding!).
If your customers prefer to help themselves, Intercom’s got their back with the AI-powered Help Center.
It’s a super smart knowledge base that serves up relevant help articles based on your customers’ queries.
The AI-enhanced Inbox is another game-changer. It uses AI to prioritize, categorize, and provide suggestions for efficient ticket handling.
Key Features of Intercom
- AI-powered chatbots for instant, accurate responses across channels
- AI-powered Help Center for self-service support
- Fin AI Copilot for agent assistance, suggestion, and task automation
- AI-Enhanced Inbox for efficient ticket handling
- Insights & Reporting for data-driven decision-making
- Collaboration tools, workflow builders, integrations, and voice support
3. Tidio
(Free plan, paid plan starts at $29/month, 7-day trial)
Tidio is an AI-powered customer service platform that automates customer interactions and streamlines support processes.
It combines live chat, chatbots, a helpdesk, and automation tools to provide a seamless customer experience.
Tidio’s standout feature is its Lyro AI Chatbot, which can understand and respond to customer inquiries within seconds, handling up to 70% of queries without human intervention.
Natural language processing (NLP) technology powers this chatbot, enabling it to communicate like a human.
But Tidio is more than just a chatbot—it’s a comprehensive customer service suite.
It offers a live visitor view, allowing you to monitor website visitors in real-time and engage with them proactively.
You can preview customer messages before responding, ensuring you are well-prepared to address their concerns.
Tidio also provides canned responses and over 30 chatbot templates to streamline your interactions and ensure consistency.
Key Features of Tidio
- AI chatbots with NLP
- Visitors’ live view
- Customer’s message preview
- Canned responses
- 30+ chatbot templates
- Deep integrations
- 16 triggers for bots
4. Zendesk
(14-day trial, paid plans start at $25/month per agent)
Zendesk is a powerful, all-in-one customer service platform that simplifies communication and streamlines support operations.
It combines various tools like ticketing, live chat, self-service portals, and analytics to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
One of the many Zendesk’s invaluable features is its omnichannel support capabilities, allowing businesses to manage customer interactions across multiple channels.
This includes email, chat, social media, and phone, all from a single unified workspace.
But Zendesk is more than just a channel management tool.
It’s a comprehensive customer service suite packed with advanced features. It offers AI-powered automation and intelligent routing to ensure queries are handled efficiently by the right agents.
Zendesk even provides robust analytics and reporting tools, assisting you gain valuable insights into your customer service performance and identifying areas for improvement.
Key Features of Zendesk
- Customizable interface
- Omnichannel support
- Ticketing system and live chat
- Self-service knowledge base
- AI automation and intelligent routing
- Analytics and Reporting
5. Zoho Desk
(15-day trial, paid plan starts at $20/month per member)
Zoho Desk is a cloud-based helpdesk that combines traditional customer service features with cutting-edge AI tech.
The best part?
This baby comes loaded with an AI assistant called Zia.
She understands natural language, triages tickets, provides sentiment analysis, suggests replies, and even detects anomalies to alert managers.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg that’s freaking monstrous.
Zoho Desk also lets you handle customer conversations from multiple channels like email, webchat, social media, phone, and messaging apps – all in one place.
And if you hate doing the same boring tasks over and over again, get ready for a game-changer.
Zoho Desk has awesome automation and workflow tools that let you automate things like ticket assignments, notifications, escalations, and field updates.
But what really sets Zoho Desk apart is its self-service capabilities.
It has an AI-powered knowledge base and community forums, so your customers can find answers themselves.
Plus, there are embeddable web forms and conversational AI chatbots to make self-service a breeze.
Key Features of Zoho Desk
- AI-powered virtual assistant (Zia)
- Omnichannel support
- Automation and workflows
- Self-service capabilities
- Agent productivity tools
- Customizations and integrations
- Analytics and Reporting
6. BoldDesk
(Starts at $25 for 3 users/month, 15-day free trial)
BoldDesk is a powerful AI-powered customer service software that combines a helpdesk, knowledge base, and automation tools to streamline your support operations.
The first thing you need to know about BoldDesk is that it’s not your average helpdesk software.
From AI-powered knowledge bases to ChatGPT integration—this bad boy has AI capabilities that will blow your mind.
BoldDesk’s AI copilot can help you create and manage your knowledge base like a pro. It can summarize lengthy articles, rephrase content, and even translate it into multiple languages.
And you know what’s really cool? It can also help you optimize your articles for better search engine visibility.
BoldDesk has integrated ChatGPT, which means your agents can use this advanced AI language model to respond to customer inquiries with precision and context.
And if that wasn’t enough, BoldDesk also offers automated ticket routing.
Using AI algorithms, it can analyze incoming tickets and automatically route them to the right agent or team based on factors like urgency, complexity, and expertise.
Key Features of BoldDesk
- AI-powered knowledge base with article summarization, rephrasing, and more
- ChatGPT integration for AI-assisted customer support
- Automated ticket routing using AI algorithms
- AI-powered canned responses and grammar checks for agents
- AI-powered translation feature for multilingual support
- Customer feedback and survey analysis for continuous improvement
7. Kore.ai
(Free plan, need-based pricing available)
Kore.ai is a conversational AI and generative AI platform. It provides intelligent virtual assistants to automate self-service, speed up transactions, and deliver personalized experiences for customer service (CX) and employee experience (EX) teams.
These AI-powered assistants can handle all sorts of tasks, from answering common queries to processing payments and scheduling appointments.
With Kore.ai, your customers can get instant support, 24/7.
These virtual assistants are powered by cutting-edge natural language processing and machine learning tech, so they can communicate like a real human.
But Kore.ai isn’t just for customer service.
It’s also a game-changer for employee experience, providing round-the-clock support and guidance for your team.
Whether it’s onboarding new hires or helping employees find the information they need, you have Kore.ai.
Key Features of Kore.ai
- Intelligent virtual assistants that think and talk like humans
- Automation of common tasks to save time and boost efficiency
- Real-time support, no more waiting on hold
- Co-browsing and tailored interactions for personalized experiences
- Agent AI to help your human team perform better
- Real-time coaching, guided playbooks, and knowledge management
8. Help Scout
(15-day trial, paid plan starts at $25/month)
Help Scout is a comprehensive customer service platform. It empowers teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences while boosting efficiency and productivity.
Help Scout brings all customer conversations, whether it’s email, live chat, or social media messages, into one unified platform.
This centralization allows teams to work collaboratively and ensure no inquiry goes unanswered.
The live chat feature facilitates real-time communication.
Moreover, Help Scout’s shared inbox permits multiple team members to access and manage incoming messages, avoiding duplicative efforts.
Another key aspect of Help Scout is its knowledge base feature, which allows businesses to create a repository of helpful articles, FAQs, and resources.
This self-service option enables customers to find answers independently, reducing the need for direct support and decreasing email volume.
Help Scout leverages artificial intelligence to enhance support operations further.
AI features can assist in writing and improving replies, summarizing conversations, and streamlining workflows, ultimately helping teams work more efficiently and effectively.
Key Features of Help Scout
- A unified platform for all customer communications
- Live chat for real-time support
- Shared inbox for team collaboration
- Knowledge base for self-service
- Robust reporting and analytics
- AI-powered support features
- Personalization through customer history
9. Ada
(14-day trial, undisclosed pricing)
Ada is an AI-powered customer service automation platform. It revolutionizes customer support processes by enabling businesses to deploy AI-driven customer service agents.
Ada offers a comprehensive suite of features to enhance customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and drive significant returns on investment.
At the heart of Ada’s technology is its advanced Reasoning Engine™.
This leverages existing knowledge sources and data from third-party tools to analyze each customer interaction.
It considers past actions and contextual nuances to deliver personalized resolutions tailored to each unique inquiry.
Unlike traditional chatbots that rely on scripted responses, Ada’s AI Agent ensures the safety and accuracy of every interaction. It does this through proprietary safety checks powered by its Customer Service Language Model (LLM).
Furthermore, Ada facilitates continuous improvement. It automatically measures resolution quality and tracks key metrics such as Customer Satisfaction (CSAT).
Key Features of Ada
- Ada’s Reasoning Engine™
- Personalized resolutions
- Continuous improvement
- Seamless deployment across channels
- Over 50 language support
10. Sprinklr Service
(30-day trial, paid plan at $249/month per member)
Sprinklr Service is an AI-powered Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) platform.
It combines digital and traditional channels into a unified platform, providing a seamless experience for customers to switch between channels without losing context.
Sprinklr Service leverages advanced AI and natural language processing to automate processes and enhance agent productivity.
One of its best features is channel-less service capability, which ensures customers can move from one channel to another (e.g., social media to live chat or phone) without having to repeat their issue or provide additional context.
But Sprinklr Service is more than channel integration.
It’s a complete customer service solution that offers robust self-service options, AI-powered agent assistance, workforce management tools, and industry-specific solutions.
Key Features of Sprinklr Service
- Unified agent workspace
- Channel-less service (seamless channel switching)
- AI chatbots and virtual assistants
- Real-time suggestions and automated responses
- Workforce management and scheduling
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Social media management
- Voice support (inbound and outbound)
11. Gladly
(Get a demo, the paid plan starts at $180/month)
Gladly combines the power of AI and human agents to create an exceptional customer experience.
And the best part? It’s wicked easy to use.
Gladly’s AI assistant, Sidekick, automates those repetitive tasks so your human agents can concentrate on complex issues and provide more personalized support.
Gladly is all about making each customer feel special.
It has this epic conversation timeline that transfers communications across channels, allowing your agents to adapt quickly and build solid relationships.
Furthermore, Gladly gets that customer service isn’t just about solving problems – it’s about making real connections.
They provide training and tools to help your agents develop those crucial soft skills like empathy, patience, and adaptability.
It even shares resources and tips to help your agents level up their customer service game.
Gladly offers a wide range of communication channels, including chat, voice, email, social media, text messaging, in-app chat, and even Instagram – because your customers are everywhere!
Key Features of Gladly
- Unified conversation timeline for personalized customer experience
- AI assistant (Sidekick) for automation of routine tasks
- Training and tools for developing agent empathy and soft skills
- Multichannel support (chat, voice, email, social media, messaging, etc.)
- Customer profiles, knowledge base, payments, and insights capabilities
- Integrations with task management, workforce management, and other business apps
12. Gorgias
(7-day trial, paid plan starts at $10/month)
Gorgias is an AI-powered customer experience platform specifically designed for e-commerce businesses.
It simplifies customer interactions by leveraging automation and machine learning to provide efficient, personalized support.
Gorgias offers a centralized inbox to manage all communication channels like email, social media, live chat, voice, and SMS.
But the real power of Gorgias lies in its automation capabilities. It can automate up to 30% of customer interactions.
Gorgias also uses machine learning and AI to personalize customer experiences.
Its AI can answer customer questions, automate resolutions, and even mimic a human’s communication style.
Gorgias integrates with various e-commerce platforms and customer support tools, allowing you to connect your entire tech stack.
It also provides detailed analytics to track your support performance, such as customer satisfaction, resolution times, and agent productivity.
Key Features of Gorgias
- Self-service options for instant answers
- Macros for quick, pre-made responses
- Flows for interactive, personalized conversations
- Article recommendations based on customer queries
- AI agent for generating accurate, human-like responses
- Help center as a knowledge base for AI and customers
- Live chat with multi-language support
13. Kayako
(Request a demo, undisclosed pricing)
Kayako is a powerful customer service software platform that helps businesses deliver exceptional support and build strong customer relationships.
It combines various channels, automation, and AI capabilities to make support operations efficient and personalized.
Kayako leverages AI and automation to enhance productivity and ensure consistent service delivery.
Its AI-powered chatbot can handle basic inquiries instantly, reducing the workload on human agents and providing 24/7 assistance.
Automation and workflows help automate common processes, such as routing conversations, updating ticket statuses, and sending predefined responses.
What’s more, Kayako’s Customer Journey Visualization (SingleView™) feature is phenomenal. It consolidates all customer interactions and activities into a unified view.
This gives agents a complete picture of the customer’s journey, including details from integrations with tools like Salesforce and Slack.
Key Features of Kayako
- Multichannel Support (email, chat, social media, self-service portals)
- AI-Powered Chatbot
- Automation and Workflows
- Customer Journey Visualization (SingleView™)
- Reporting and Analytics
- Collaboration Tools
- Integrations (Salesforce, Slack, Zapier)
14. Kustomer
(Request a demo, paid plans start at $89/month per member)
Kustomer is a cloud-based, AI-powered CRM platform.
It leverages cutting-edge technologies like natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and sentiment analysis to streamline customer interactions, automate repetitive tasks, and provide personalized support.
Kustomer’s AI engine, called Kustomer IQ, powers a range of intelligent features.
It can automatically route incoming inquiries to the most suitable agent based on the query’s content, language, and the customer’s history.
These AI assistants can communicate like humans, gather initial information, and escalate to a live agent when needed.
Kustomer IQ can also suggest relevant knowledge base articles during conversations, reducing manual searches and speeding up resolution times.
Its sentiment analysis capabilities detect customer emotions and alert agents to handle sensitive conversations accordingly.
Key Features of Kustomer
- Intelligent routing of customer inquiries
- Conversational AI chatbots and virtual assistants
- Knowledge base automation
- Sentiment analysis for customer emotions
- Predictive engagement and proactive support
- Seamless third-party integrations
15. AzureDesk
(14-day trial, paid plans start at $50/month per member)
AzureDesk is a cloud-based customer service and helpdesk ticketing software.
It’s built specifically for small businesses and companies that are growing fast, giving you all the tools you need to provide top-notch customer support without breaking the bank.
AzureDesk allows you to convert emails into support tickets, so you can keep everything organized and never miss a single customer query.
But that’s just the beginning.
It also offers an unlimited mailbox feature, which means you can integrate it with as many email accounts as you need, making it a breeze to manage customer inquiries from multiple channels.
But wait, there’s more.
AzureDesk has a killer feature called the Support Center, which acts as a 24/7 self-service portal for your customers.
Even when your support team is off duty, your customers can find answers to their questions and get the help they need.
And if you’re a fan of integrations, AzureDesk has got you covered. It plays nicely with popular apps like Jira and Slack.
Key Features of AzureDesk
- Ticket management system for efficient issue handling
- Email-to-ticket conversion with unlimited mailbox support
- 24/7 self-service customer support center
- Team collaboration through private notes and notifications
- Knowledge base management for centralized information
- Detailed reporting and analytics on customer interactions
Embracing the AI-Powered Customer Service
The need to deliver exceptional customer experiences while boosting operational efficiency has never been greater.
As we’ve explored in this blog post, AI-powered customer service tools have emerged as a top-notch solution.
They enable businesses to deliver personalized support at scale, tailoring interactions to individual needs, while automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes like ticket management.
So, take a moment to imagine what your customer service operations could look like with the power of AI at your fingertips.
How might these tools help you better understand and meet the evolving needs of your customers?