Messaging app Kik has beat Facebook to the punch and launched a bot store. Chat bots are being called “the next-generation platforms,” and could be a big part of the future of customer service. Bots allow users to use chat apps to get information on a variety of subjects without having to jump from app to app. The Kik Bot Shop allows developers to create and add their own: The Weather Channel’s bot can tell users the weather every morning, and Sephora’s make-up tutorial bot can chat users instructions on the perfect cat-eye. According to Kik’s CEO, “if you're a business that has a lot of teens walking into your store, it's better to build a bot for Kik than for Facebook.” (Business Insider)
