The number of chatbot messaging apps accessed will increase from 3.5 billion in 2022 to 9.5 billion by 2026 — driven by the adoption of omnichannel retail strategies by eCommerce players and the rising integration of chatbots within messaging platforms.
Retail spend over chatbot messaging apps will account for over 50 percent of global chatbot retail spend by 2026. The development of messaging app functionalities will attract high‑value online retailers to chatbot messaging apps over competing channels, Juniper Research report said.
Chatbot developers need to form strategic partnerships with CPaaS (Communication Platform-as-a-Service) vendors to expand the reach of their services and offer a compatible solution for enterprises exploring new messaging channels, including messaging apps and RCS (Rich Communication Services).
Vendors need to develop their chatbots to integrate with voice assistants to capitalise on the growth of in-home smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. By implementing these voice capabilities, chatbot vendors can maximise value proposition by encouraging voice-led conversational commerce.
The total spend over chatbot messaging apps in China will surpass $21 billion by 2026, with applications such as WeChat providing a definitive framework for chatbots that is branded for each retailer. Chatbots vendors outside of China need to emulate this framework to drive chatbot adoption by offering services, including payment capabilities, social media and rich media.
