Firework Introduces ‘AVA’, a Cutting-Edge AI Retail Assistant Designed to Improve Customer Experiences
In Brief
With the launch of AVA, an AI-driven video sales assistant, Firework aims to elevate the shopping experience by blending technology with personal engagement for consumers.
Shopping online versus in physical stores each has its benefits and drawbacks. In-person shoppers can closely examine items and rely on the expertise of staff to answer questions. On the other hand, e-commerce online shopping offers unparalleled convenience and flexibility, allowing purchases from the comfort of home or anywhere else, though it lacks the tactile experience and personalized service that physical stores provide.
To narrow this gap between online and offline shopping, Firework has launched AVA, a virtual AI sales assistant created specifically for the retail environment. AI virtual assistant .
Designed with an engaging human-like avatar and smart interactivity, AVA allows users to experience personalized interaction similar to that of speaking directly with an in-store expert. As a virtual assistant, AVA answers questions, suggests items based on a customer's history, and can showcase products live—all at the click of a button. As Jerry Luk, co-founder and president of Firework, explained to Metaverse Post, AVA stands out as a virtual assistant tailored explicitly for e-commerce.
With Firework’s proprietary large language model Leveraging a Large Language Model (LLM), AVA continuously learns and evolves, addressing customer inquiries and delivering real-time product presentations. By tapping into various data sources like sales trends, engagement metrics, and customer feedback, AVA enhances its output, driving increased sales.
Jerry Luk further shared, 'We enable shoppers to experience the rapid conveniences of e-commerce without forgoing—and often enhancing—the personal touch that transformed shopping into a delightful venture, not just a chore.'
Streamlining Customer Experience with AI Assistants
As stated by Firework, AVA's methodology in generating AI content revolves around Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and fine-tuning of models, which significantly boosts how adaptable and personalized interactions are between brands, consumers, and this virtual sales assistant.
Over time, users can update AVA’s database, ensuring the assistant remains current with the newest product information, trends in the industry, and shifting customer desires. Thanks to RAG’s ongoing knowledge enhancement, AVA can pull in the most relevant and timely information in conversations, improving response accuracy and contextual relevance.
Firework's Jerry Luk mentioned, 'By incorporating data from one-on-one virtual shopping sessions with human agents, AVA can enhance its grasp of consumer preferences and behaviors.' This personalized approach goes beyond just product inquiries, aligning communication styles to suit individual customer needs and histories, thereby deepening the connection between consumers and brands.
Moreover, Firework opted for Google Cloud's solutions Vertex AI to develop AVA, valuing its robust reliability and performance. The architecture of Vertex AI ensures efficient operation, essential for consistent
retail performance. Their partnership highlights Google Cloud's willingness to adapt based on feedback from Firework, improving Vertex AI to fulfill AVA's unique requirements and ensuring continuous innovation. Google Cloud 'The impressive capabilities of Vertex AI allow for quick and precise processing of sizable data sets, which means AVA can swiftly react to shifts in consumer habits and preferences, elevating the overall effectiveness of the virtual assistant,' explained Jerry Luk.
What truly sets AVA apart is its capacity to engage in human-like interactions via voice and visual presence, breaking free from the constraints of standard text-based AI assistants. This design creates a vibrant, interactive shopping experience akin to conversing with a knowledgeable sales representative.
Jerry Luk mentioned to Metaverse Post that this feature was influenced by the success seen with Firework’s virtual shopping product, which witnessed a staggering tenfold rise in conversion rates through video interactions, highlighting how crucial visual engagement is for instilling consumer confidence and facilitating decision-making.
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Disclaimer
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