Slimbot
Your hands are in a client's hair, and meanwhile the phone rings and three messages come in: "Can I still come on Saturday?", "What do highlights cost?", "I need to reschedule my appointment." An AI assistant for your hair salon answers those messages immediately, so you can simply carry on working.
What does an AI assistant do in a hair salon?
- Request appointments via WhatsApp. The assistant asks which treatment, which day and which time, and puts the appointment request in your overview.
- Reminder the day before. The customer receives a WhatsApp message 24 hours in advance and can confirm or cancel with one tap. So you hear in time if someone isn't coming.
- Bringing customers back. After a period you choose, for example 6 or 8 weeks, the assistant sends an invitation for a follow-up appointment.
- Answer questions about treatments, prices, parking and opening hours, even when the salon is closed.
- Ask for a review after the treatment, with a direct link to your Google profile.
- Answering the phone. With the AI receptionist, callers are also helped whilst you're helping a client. Read more about the AI receptionist
Virtual assistant or AI assistant?
The terms are used interchangeably, but there is a difference. A virtual assistant is often a human who works remotely for you a few hours a week: keeping your diary, answering e-mail. An AI assistant is software that answers directly day and night, based on what you teach it. For a hair salon, where most questions are about appointments and prices and often come in outside working hours, speed is more important than customisation. That's where an AI assistant excels.
How to get started
- Connect your WhatsApp Business number with a QR code. Customers simply message the number they know.
- Fill in your treatment menu, with prices (a "from" price is fine), opening hours and the questions you often get. Also think about parking, payment and your cancellation policy.
- Choose your tone. Do you address your customers informally or formally? The assistant adapts.
- Follow along in the inbox during the first few days and take over the conversation where you want. The assistant then steps aside.
Note: permission for messages
You may only send reminders and invitations to customers who have given permission to do so, and a customer must always be able to unsubscribe easily. How that works is explained in GDPR & opt-out: WhatsApp within the rules.
Also read: 5 ways to reduce no-shows · Applications for hairdressers