Yelp unveiled a cutting-edge AI-powered chatbot today, designed to assist consumers in connecting with businesses that are most relevant to their needs. The company is among many organizations embracing AI chatbots as a helpful tool.
As an IT project manager, I am pleased to announce that the company will be implementing the AI assistant on its iOS app, starting with the “Projects” tab. We are also excited to share that we have plans to expand this feature to Android devices later this year. According to Yelp, the chatbot utilizes OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs) in combination with its own data to inquire about users’ issues and link them with suitable professionals for assistance.
Instead of utilizing a conventional search box to find various professionals for the problem, you have the option to directly describe the issue within the chat interface.
The bot inquires about additional details and requests your zip code to initiate the project creation process. Once the bot sends the information, you’ll have access to messages from professionals regarding their projects. You can respond to these conversations with a personalized message or use the application’s quick reply feature.
The company is also adding a new “Project Ideas” section to encourage you to initiate a fresh project that may require you to explore services on Yelp. Here are a few suggestions for you: taking care of your home, adding new lighting fixtures, and improving your outdoor area. In the coming months, the company plans to enhance this feature by adding personalized recommendations and checklists.
“AI revolutionizes the way individuals explore and engage with nearby businesses,” stated Craig Saldanha, Yelp’s chief product officer.
“Yelp Assistant revolutionizes the process of hiring service providers, making it easier for consumers to find the perfect professional for their needs. At the same time, it equips service providers with the necessary information to assess and secure jobs,” he commented.
Currently, the company is not considering using AI chatbots for restaurant discovery.
“We are currently exploring the potential of incorporating natural language search more extensively into our platform to better cater to the needs of our users.This includes the ability to search for restaurants and services,” explained Akhil Kuduvalli Ramesh, the SVP of product at the company, in an email interview with Eltrys.
The company announced its plans to launch AI-generated videos later this year, utilizing user-shared photos, videos, and details.
Yelp Fusion AI
Similar to an IT project manager, the company is not only making the bot accessible to consumers, but also introducing an API that allows other websites to incorporate an AI-powered bot for business discovery. Visitors to this external website have the option to inquire with the chatbot for recommendations, such as “Can you suggest a vegan brunch spot that is open this Saturday at 9 a.m.?” or “I’m looking for a reputable workout studio in Miami that has a swimming pool.”
According to Yelp, the bot will provide users with helpful suggestions that include important details such as Yelp ratings, price information, review highlights, photos, and AI-generated business summaries.
Businesses have the opportunity to try out the new Fusion API with a 30-day access period. At the moment, the API only supports single-turn queries and responses. However, we are working on adding support for multi-turn chat, which will be available later this year.
Yelp provided a Fusion API for various businesses to seamlessly integrate Yelp content into their products. Some of the notable companies that utilized this API included Amazon, Apple, Ford, and Mailchimp. With the latest release, a conversational chatbot experience is now available.
We are introducing innovative tools to streamline restaurant guest management.
Yelp is also improving its guest manager experience for over 11,000 restaurants on its network. With the new Guest Manager design, restaurant operators can now easily optimize staff utilization by visualizing cover flow. They can also stay updated on table status in real-time and conveniently add notes for shift managers.
Yelp is introducing new waitlist updates to enhance the customer experience. These updates include more accurate waiting times and convenient text message updates to keep customers informed about their place in line. In the near future, the company plans to send text messages to users containing pre-dining dish suggestions.
We are currently working on redesigning the Yelp Kiosk to provide a more user-friendly experience for customers. This will allow them to effortlessly join the waitlist and check themselves into the restaurant.
In 2023, Yelp reported a net revenue of $1.34 billion, showing 12% growth compared to the previous year. Following a significant decrease of $3 million in 2022, the company experienced a remarkable surge in net income, with profits reaching an impressive $99 million, reflecting a substantial increase of 173%. Although Yelp stock has experienced a significant year-on-year gain of over 35%, it has unfortunately declined by approximately 12% year-to-date.
