While AI has long been part of our tech landscape, its applications in distilling vast amounts of data are well established. Early AI and machine learning implementations in domains like marketing and data analytics paved the way for insights from huge data sets, automating tasks such as text analysis, audience clustering, and trend forecasting. These use cases have evolved rapidly over the last year, ushering in cutting-edge methodologies.
The surge in adopting generative AI solutions is evident across the board, but particularly pronounced in the insights and analytics community. While trailblazers in the field may be employing these techniques in tasks such as crafting survey queries or simplifying data visualisations, there’s a more profound value shift underway. This shift embodies the transformative power of AI to reshape our understanding of human perspectives. The vision rests on one novel idea: utilising conversational AI to revolutionise the very bedrock of employee surveys.
Conversational AI in Employee Surveys
So, what exactly is Conversational AI? If we were to sift through the myriad of definitions available, a concise explanation would be that conversational AI refers to an artificial intelligence that mimics human conversation dynamics. Central to this is natural language processing (NLP) – a specialised AI field that equips machines with the capability to interpret human language. These tools decode written or spoken cues, crafting responses that seamlessly align with the context of the conversation.
Most of us have encountered basic conversational AI manifestations through voice-activated assistants. Recall the times you’ve called a helpline, and an AI-driven system prompted you for your concerns. This AI evaluates your response to efficiently route you to a suitable destination, be it an automated guide or a human agent. Moreover, we’ve witnessed its prowess in online platforms, aiding in tasks such as customer returns or addressing grievances. The emphasis on crafting a superior experience remains pivotal for businesses – and in the realm of employee feedback, what could be more crucial than ensuring employee voice is captured authentically?
Harnessing Conversational AI to Amplify Employee Feedback
When delving into qualitative research, the essence lies in the researcher’s ability to truly listen to participants, often prompting with cues like: “That’s intriguing…can you elaborate?” Such probing methodologies offer multiple layers of comprehension, providing a deeper look into factors like employee alignment with organisational values or their perception of company benefits. However, achieving this level of depth across a broad audience is notoriously challenging.
Enter quantitative research. This methodology excels at scaling and gathering responses from countless participants. The attempt to discern the “why” behind answers in these surveys usually involves integrating open-ended questions, hoping for detailed insights in employees’ own words. But let’s face it: generic and sometimes tedious surveys often lead to brief, surface-level remarks rather than profound understandings.
Enter conversational surveys. This innovative methodology, powered by conversational AI, employs chatbots to guide employees in a manner reminiscent of a qualitative research exchange. Participants find these conversational surveys notably engaging. Why? It feels more like a genuine conversation, fostering a sense of connection and ensuring their feedback is valued. With the growing ubiquity of text-based communication platforms like WhatsApp, textual interactions are second nature for most. We use them daily with our social circles and peers, allowing for candid and relaxed exchanges.
This normalisation of chat-style interactions has set the stage for research methodologies that are more participative and less monotonous. When applied to feedback collection, conversational surveys have showcased richer responses and superior data quality. Whether it’s structured quantitative questions or open-ended qualitative ones, the chat-centric format is versatile across devices and particularly shines on mobile platforms.
A conversational survey harnesses AI to intelligently delve deeper into employees’ feedback AND categorise spontaneous responses. By employing state-of-the-art machine learning, natural language interpretation, and generative AI, conversational surveys promise a transformative approach to capturing genuine employee feedback.
Decoding Conversational AI in Employee Surveys
What sets conversational surveys apart from their traditional counterparts? The answer lies in the heightened emphasis on open-ended questions. Conversational formats, with their chat-centric approach, pave the way for richer, more expansive answers. Their unique style naturally invites more detailed feedback, bolstered further by strategic probing. This means asking follow-up questions that delve beneath surface-level replies.
While it’s important to note that conversational surveys aren’t direct substitutes for in-depth qualitative methodologies, like focus groups or in-depth interviews, they certainly pack a qualitative punch. The depth and breadth of feedback obtained from open-ended responses in conversational surveys bear testament to this fact. This transition in approach transforms surveys into a blend of Qualitative and Quantitative. By imbibing the essence of qualitative rapport-building and engagement, these surveys can extract deeper insights on a larger scale.
Leveraging AI to Deepen Employee Insights: The Power of Probing
One breakthrough in conversational AI within employee surveys lies in its capacity for probing and prompting. While there’s a spectrum in the sophistication of AI-driven probing across different platforms, a well-designed conversational AI seamlessly comprehends participant inputs, enabling the chatbot to react with pertinent follow-up questions.
This is especially important where responses lack detail. In instances where employees offer very short written responses to open-ended questions, typical in conventional employee surveys, the chatbot intervenes. By seeking elaboration or asking employees to clarify, the AI aims to garner more comprehensive feedback. Upon receiving a comprehensive initial reply, the AI doesn’t just stop. It may echo a particular term or segment from the initial feedback and invite the participant to dive deeper into the thought process behind that specific issue.
Another method – focused probing – is especially tactical. This is where the AI is pre-set to zero in on certain keywords or phrases relevant to the survey’s objectives. If an employee mentions a specific issue or an ongoing company initiative, the AI is programmed to delve further into that topic. By tailoring probes based on participant feedback, Conversational AI not only maximises the depth of insight but also offers a more personalised and interactive survey experience for employees.
Harnessing the Breadth of Quantitative Insights
One of the transformative elements of conversational AI in employee surveys is its capacity to amalgamate large amounts of quantitative data from an expansive participant base. Traditional quantitative questions (e.g. multiple choice, ranking, scales etc.) can be seamlessly integrated into conversational-style surveys. These questions can be optimised visually to ensure compatibility across various platforms, be it mobile, desktop, or tablet.
By aligning with the familiar chat format, conversational AI surveys replicate the kind of interactions employees have in their daily lives, integrating visuals and emojis to make feedback both intuitive and engaging.
AI’s Role in Accelerated Insight Extraction
The collection of vast amounts of qualitative, open-text data undoubtedly offers a goldmine of insights. However, deciphering this extensive information, especially within constrained timeframes, can be daunting. Here, AI shines by categorising and theming unstructured feedback. The secret sauce is Natural Language Processing (NLP), which teaches machines to decode human speech or text, grouping them into coherent themes.
Top-tier conversational AI achieves this in an instant, raising the bar by including on-the-fly analysis of qualitative insights. This swiftness lets researchers focus on their core strengths: distilling actionable insights from genuine, nuanced feedback and guiding businesses on informed decision-making paths.
Enhancing Employee Feedback Quality
Several instances reveal how conversational AI markedly enhances the depth and richness of feedback in employee research, offering companies invaluable insights. Conversational AI doesn’t just upgrade open-ended responses, it can also heighten the precision of traditional metrics. The heightened engagement with conversational AI surveys is obvious – employees feel they’re genuinely being heard, fostering a sense of value for their feedback. When asked about their experience with the conversational AI survey format, employees are overwhelmingly positive. Conversational AI facilitates a deeper connection with respondents, which in the context of employee research means fostering trust and genuine engagement
The power of conversational AI isn’t just a distant dream, it’s a tangible reality today. So, if you’re contemplating how to integrate conversational AI into your existing employee survey, please arrange a time to speak with us to find out more.
