NexTech AR Solutions Corp (CSE:NTAR) (OTCMKTS:NEXCF) has partnered with “conversational commerce” company LivePerson Inc (NASDAQ:LPSN) to combine the experiences of augmented reality and artificial intelligence-driven consumer messaging.
LivePerson’s platform lets businesses communicate with their customers using automated messages through channels like SMS, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, RCS, and Apple Business Chat.
Compared to traditional phone calls, messaging conversations increase customer satisfaction by 20%, double agent efficiency, and cut labor cost per interaction in half, NexTech said in a statement.
Shares of NexTech surged 20% to C$2.76 on the CSE on Tuesday and 20% to US$2.10 on OTC Markets.
READ: NexTech AR Solutions Corp broadens augmented reality deal with Canadian transportation company Challenger Motor Freight
“We are very excited and fortunate to be partnering with LivePerson, a pioneer and global leader in conversational commerce with over 18,000 customers," NexTech CEO Evan Gappelberg said in a statement. “AR and conversational commerce are a natural fit, and by joining forces we are creating what will be a transformative and disruptive new technology for the retail industry. Combining LivePerson's conversational messaging with our augmented reality is truly a giant step forward for NexTech and the emerging AR industry as a whole.”
Together, consumer messaging and AR can create a unique customer experience. As the company lays out in a demo video, a customer looking for a pair of shoes could chat with a company representative, and the business could recommend a pair. Then, the customer could view the shoes in full 3D and see them in their own space, all within the same app.
“Providing augmented reality experiences and one-touch purchase transactions within messaging makes eCommerce interactions seamless for consumers – and changes the retail landscape forever,” LivePerson Assistant Vice President of Retail Scott Starr said. “With 3D conversational ads, we’ll not only help brands capture attention with innovative creative, but also deliver accelerated click-through and conversion rates.”
—Updated to include stock movement—
Contact Andrew Kessel at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel