AI Agents: What Are They and How to Use Them for Your Business
Have you heard of AI agents? They're the colleagues and employees that never take sick days. These intelligent bots can be programmed to take on specific roles, whether it’s customer service, scheduling appointments, or sales.
As Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said, “AI is one of the most profound things we’re working on as humanity—it’s more profound than fire or electricity.”
In this post, we’ll explore what AI agents are, the top AI agent builders, and how you can use them in your business.
What is an AI Agent
Artificial intelligence is a relatively new tech for business owners, so you might be unaware of what AI agents can do for you.
Think of an AI agent as a computer program designed to perform specific tasks autonomously. They can interact with customers, make decisions, and carry out actions like scheduling or providing recommendations independently.
AI researcher Fei-Fei Li emphasized, “AI is not magic, but it’s a powerful tool to amplify human potential.”
And to amplify human potential in business, we can choose from a few types of AI agents depending on the level of autonomy, and the use cases we need. Examples of AI agents include chatbots, virtual assistants (VAs), and voice assistants. Let's now look at the key differences.
Types of AI Agents:
Chatbots: These are text-based bots that are mainly used for answering the most common customer inquiries based on a pre-defined script.
Virtual Assistants: They can handle scheduling appointments, sending emails, and reminders to clients.
Voice Assistants: Voice-activated tools used for hands-free operations, like answering questions from customers in a human-like voice.
How to Use AI Agents for Small Businesses
AI agents help small businesses in diverse ways. Let’s look at some common used by industries:
E-commerce: AI agents are used to automate product recommendations, support, and checkout processes. As Shopify’s CEO Tobi Lütke said, “AI can unlock personalized shopping experiences at scale.”
Travel: Virtual travel assistants help clients manage bookings and respond to customer inquiries, reducing manual workload.
Education: AI agents support students by offering personalized learning options, and handle general admin tasks for teachers such as sending reminders and emails.
General Business: AI agent can act as business admins and help in collection of payments, booking appointments, and offering 24/7 customer support.
Top 3 Emerging Trends in AI Agents
The future of AI in business is promising, with new AI models set to revolutionize industries. Elon Musk also highlighted AI’s potential: “AI will be the most impactful technology of our time, transforming industries and how we work.”
Here’s what to expect in the coming years:
Focus on Personalized Service: AI agents will increasingly analyze customer data to deliver tailored recommendations and support, potentially boosting sales by up to 30% (McKinsey). Imagine future e-commerce platforms offering hyper-personalized shopping experiences based on advanced AI insights.
Voice Interactions: By 2025, over 75% of customer service interactions are projected to be powered by AI voice assistants (Forbes). Businesses will adopt more sophisticated voice AI to manage bookings, support, and inquiries efficiently.
Smarter Automation: AI-driven automation is expected to improve operational efficiency by 40-50% (Gartner). Future AI agents will handle complex tasks such as inventory management, dynamic pricing, and automated marketing with greater accuracy and minimal human intervention.
Benefits and Challenges of AI Agents
Benefits of using AI agents:
Cost Reduction: AI can agents help you automate routine tasks like customer service, research and admin tasks to save on labor costs.
24/7 Availability: AI agents can perform business tasks round the clock.
Scalability: As your business grows, AI agents can scale along to handle more tasks without added costs.
Challenges of using AI agents:
Initial Setup: Creating and deploying AI agents may require time and some knowledge, especially for setting up complex tasks.
Customer Trust: Some customers may hesitate to interact with AI agents, preferring human agents.
Creativity Limitations: While AI agents are smart, they still struggle with tasks requiring human-like creativity and empathy.
Best AI Agent Builders in 2025
1. Wonderchat.io
Wonderchat is a powerful, easy-to-use platform for building smart AI agents that can be trained to handle a variety of tasks.
Key Features: AI-driven customer service, personalized recommendations, integrations with CRM and popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify.
Best For: Small businesses, enterprises, and e-commerce stores.
Pros: Simple interface, scalable, customisation, flexible pricing.
Cons: Limited advanced features in the free plan.
Pricing: Free plan available; premium plans for businesses start at $99/month and include 6000 monthly message credits.
2. Dialogflow
Dialogflow is Google’s conversational AI platform that offers a powerful integration with Google Cloud.
Key Features: Voice and text-based agents, multiple language support, seamless Google integrations.
Best For: Businesses already using Google Cloud.
Pros: Scalable, robust NLP capabilities.
Cons: Complex setup for beginners.
Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $0.007 per text query, and $0.001 per second for voice call query.
3. ManyChat
ManyChat is a simple chatbot builder focused on messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Key Features: Simple to use interface, automated workflows, integration with social media channels.
Best For: Social media marketing and lead generation for businesses through social channels.
Pros: User-friendly, affordable, and strong customer support.
Cons: Limited features in the free plan, and you will be charged based on the number of contacts in your list.
Pricing: Free plan available; Pro plan starts at $15 per month, and scales with the number of contacts. For example, if your contact list has 2000 clients you will be charged $25 per month.
How to Build an AI Agent with Wonderchat.io
Building an AI agent with Wonderchat.io is straightforward. Here’s a simple 3-step guide to get started:
Sign Up: Create a free account on Wonderchat.io.
Create Your AI Agent: Use the guided steps to create your AI agent, select a role, set up workflows, integrate your CRM or website, and define the tasks you want the AI agent to handle.
Deploy: Once your AI agent is ready, integrate it with your website or Shopify platform and automate customer interactions!
Track interactions from the Wonderchat dashboard.
Case Studies: Real Business Success with AI Agents
E-commerce Store: An online retailer used AI agents for product recommendations and customer support, increasing sales by 25%.
Marketing Agency: Automated client communications and scheduling with AI agents, saving 20 hours per week.
Healthcare Provider: Implemented AI agents for appointment scheduling and patient inquiries, reducing administrative costs by 30%.
How to Choose the Right AI Agent for Your Business
When selecting an AI agent for your business you need to think of your specific needs and overall strategy. Here are some key factors to consider:
Define Your Business Needs:
Start by thinking which processes you want to automate. Are you looking to improve customer support, automate appointment scheduling, or focus on marketing activities? Knowing your priorities helps narrow down the options.Integration Capabilities:
Ensure the AI agent you select can integrate with your existing tools, like your CRM, e-commerce platform, or email systems. Smooth integration will help you minimize disruptions and maximizes efficiency.Scalability:
Opt for an AI agent that can grow with your business. As your operations expand, the tool should be capable of handling increased volume, without exorbitant costs or complexity.Ease of Use and Customization:
Select a platform that offers an intuitive, no-code interface (like Wonderchat) if you’re not an experienced coder. Additionally, look for AI chatbot builders that allow customization to match your brand’s tone and specific workflows.Cost Considerations:
Find a tool that meets your budget. Many tools offer free plans or trial periods, allowing you to test the AI builder before committing to a paid plan.
Note: When deciding on a tool, choose an AI agent builder that not only fits your current requirements but can also be adapted to future growth and technological advancements.
FAQs About AI Agents for Business
Is ChatGPT an AI agent?
Yes, ChatGPT is an AI agent that uses natural language processing to assist with various tasks.
Are AI agents expensive to implement?
Many AI agent tools offer affordable plans, including free tiers, making them accessible for small businesses.
Do I need to code to build an AI agent for my business?
No, many platforms like Wonderchat.io offer no-code solutions to create AI agents easily.
Conclusion - How AI Agents Can Help Your Business
AI agents are revolutionizing business operations by automating tasks, improving customer experiences, and driving growth. Whether you’re a small business looking to streamline operations or a large enterprise aiming to personalize customer interactions, AI agents can significantly impact your business.
Ready to deploy AI agents in your business? Start building your AI agent today with Wonderchat.io and take your customer service to the next level.
