Artificial intelligence in customer relations: methods, examples and best practices

François
Published on
14/11/2025

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing customer relations. And it's not science fiction: it's already a reality that your competitors are probably exploiting. 🚀

If you're wondering how to use AI to transform your customer service, improve satisfaction and cut costs, you've come to the right place.

In this comprehensive guide, we reveal the methods that work, real-life examples of companies that are thriving thanks to AI, and best practices for succeeding in your digital transformation of customer relations.

What is artificial intelligence in customer relations?

Artificial intelligence in customer relations is the use of advanced algorithms and machine learning to :

  • Automate repetitive interactions
  • Personalize customer experiences on a grand scale
  • Predicting needs and behaviors
  • Analyze feelings and trends
  • Optimize customer support processes

Unlike old, rigid automated systems, modern AI understands natural language, learns from every interaction, and improves continuously.

The result? A smooth, fast, personalized customer experience that delights your customers AND optimizes your costs.

Why AI has become indispensable in customer relations

Customer expectations have exploded. Some sobering figures:

  • 90% of customers expect an immediate response when they contact a company
  • 55% of French people consider AI essential for quality customer service
  • 74% of customers consider customer service to be the number-one loyalty factor (ahead of price!)
  • 85% of companies will have adopted AI by 2025 (compared with 10% by 2023)

The conclusion is simple: either you adopt AI, or you'll fall way behind your competitors.

At Klark, we help companies make this technological leap in a matter of hours, not months.

The 7 key applications of AI in customer relations

1. AI chatbots and conversational agents

Modern chatbots are no longer those stupid robots that respond off the cuff. 🤖

Thanks to natural language processing (NLP) and advanced language models, AI agents really understand what the customer is asking, and provide relevant answers.

What they can do:

  • Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
  • Track an order in real time
  • Solve simple technical problems
  • Qualify a request before transferring it to a human
  • Available 24/7, even at 3 a.m.

Case in point: H&M reduced its response times by 70% thanks to its AI chatbot.

2. Augmented assistance for agents (AI copilot)

AI doesn't replace your agents, it turns them into super-agents! 💪

An AI copilot like Klark Copilot suggests answers in real time while the agent processes the ticket.

The benefits:

  • Response time divided by 2
  • Improved response quality (fewer errors)
  • Agents less stressed (less manual searching)
  • 50% increase in productivity

Your agents focus on empathy and complex resolution, while the AI takes care of the rest.

3. Large-scale customization

AI analyzes a customer's complete history (purchases, interactions, preferences) to deliver an ultra-personalized experience.

Examples:

  • "Hi Sophie, I see you ordered the Model X last week. How can I help you today?"
  • Product recommendations based on purchasing behavior
  • Targeted promotional offers at the right time

Customers feel understood and valued. Result: increased customer loyalty.

4. Predictive analysis and anticipation of needs

AI doesn't just react, it anticipates.

What it can predict:

  • Which customers are at risk of churn (to act before they leave)
  • Which product a customer is likely to buy next
  • Which customers will need support in the near future?
  • Which periods will generate peak demand

You move from a reactive to a proactive posture. Game changer! 🎯

5. Real-time sentiment analysis

AI analyzes the tone and sentiment of customer messages to detect :

  • Frustrated customers (to intervene quickly)
  • Satisfied customers (to capitalize on with upsell or feedback request)
  • Emerging problems (before they become critical)

At Klark, we automatically analyze the sentiment of every conversation to give you a real-time view of customer satisfaction.

6. Intelligent request routing

AI analyzes the customer's request and automatically routes it to :

  • The right service (technical, sales, claims)
  • The right agent (depending on expertise and availability)
  • The right channel (chat, email, phone)

Result: reduced resolution time, increased satisfaction.

7. Improving CRM with AI

AI integrates with your existing tools (Zendesk, Freshdesk, Salesforce, etc.) to :

  • Automatically enrich customer files
  • Suggest the best course of action
  • Automate repetitive tasks (ticket creation, status updates)
  • Analyze data for actionable insights

Real-life examples of companies succeeding with AI

H&M: -70% response times

The fashion giant has deployed a multilingual AI chatbot that handles simple requests in seconds.

The result: a 70% reduction in response times and staff freed up to deal with complex cases.

FrieslandCampina: instant multilingual support

This food company has deployed an AI assistant capable of responding in Chinese and English on products and general support.

Result: Easier international expansion without recruiting dozens of multilingual agents.

Click&Boat: +50% productivity with Klark

This leading boat rental company has been using Klark for 10 months.

Results :

  • 43% of tickets processed with Klark
  • +50% increase in agent productivity
  • Happier teams (fewer repetitive tasks)

You too can get these results

These companies are not unicorns with unlimited budgets. They're companies like yours that have simply adopted the right tools at the right time.

Best practices for success with AI in customer relations

1. Start small, then expand

There's no need to revolutionize everything at once. Start with :

  • Automate answers to frequently asked questions
  • Assist your agents with simple cases
  • Analyze the sentiment of conversations

Once it's running, gradually widen it.

2. Choose a plug-and-play solution

If you need 6 months and a team of developers to deploy your AI, you've chosen the wrong tool.

With Klark, you're up and running in just a few hours: we connect to your CRM, retrieve your data and build your knowledge base automatically. No configuration on your part.

3. Keep the human element in the loop

AI handles the repetitive, while humans handle the complex and emotional.

Make sure that :

  • Customers can always talk to a human if they want to
  • AI automatically escalates when it can't solve a problem
  • Your agents validate the AI's answers (at first, then less and less)

The human + AI combo = the winning equation.

4. Train your teams

AI is not there to replace your agents, but to make them more efficient.

Train them to :

  • Using AI suggestions
  • Know when to intervene manually
  • Enrich the knowledge base with new cases

5. Measure the impact

Track the KPIs that count:

  • Average response time: has it decreased?
  • First contact resolution rate: has it improved?
  • CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score): are your customers more satisfied?
  • Agent productivity: are they processing more tickets?
  • ROI: how much are you really saving?

To find out more about these indicators, read our guide to measuring customer satisfaction.

6. Ensure RGPD compliance

AI manipulates customer data. Make sure that :

  • Your solution is RGPD compliant
  • Data is anonymized before processing
  • Customers can exercise their rights (access, deletion)

At Klark, we automatically anonymize personal data before sending it to AI models. Security is non-negotiable.

7. Customize to your brand

AI must respect your brand's tone and style.

  • Startup tech → relaxed, friendly tone
  • Bank → formal, reassuring tone
  • Luxury → elegant, refined tone

Make sure your AI solution can adapt to your brand identity.

Challenges and how to overcome them

Challenge #1: "AI will misunderstand and frustrate my customers"

Solution: Use advanced language models (GPT-4, Claude, Mistral) that really understand context. And keep it easy to escalate to a human.

Challenge #2: "It's too expensive".

Solution: AI reduces your operating costs by 30 to 40%. ROI is guaranteed from the very first months. At Klark, we charge by success: you only pay if it works.

Challenge no. 3: "My agents will resist change".

Solution: Involve them from the outset. Show them that AI frees them from thankless tasks to focus on what they love: connecting with customers.

Challenge no. 4: "It's going to take months to roll out".

Solution: Not with the right solutions. With Klark, you're up and running in a matter of hours.

The future of AI in customer relations: what's coming?

We're just at the beginning of the revolution. Here's what's in store:

  • Hyper-personalization: AI will know each customer intimately for 100% customized experiences
  • Proactive AI: contact your customers even before they have a problem
  • Natural voice: AI callbots will be indistinguishable from humans
  • Emotional AI: able to detect and react to emotions with empathy
  • Total automation: 80-90% of interactions managed without human intervention (for simple cases)

Companies that adopt AI now will be tomorrow's leaders. Those that wait will lag behind.

Conclusion: AI in customer relations is no longer an option

Artificial intelligence in customer relations is not a passing trend. It's the new norm.

Here's a recap of what you need to know:

  • AI transforms customer relations: speed, personalization, cost reduction
  • 7 key applications: chatbots, copilots, personalization, prediction, sentiment, routing, CRM
  • Measurable results: -70% in lead times, +50% in productivity
  • Start small, choose plug-and-play solutions, keep people in the loop
  • Measure impact with the right KPIs
  • 85% of companies have adopted AI by 2025: don't fall behind

Want to see what AI can do for your customer relations? Request a Klark demo and discover how we can transform your customer service in just a few hours.

Because, in the end, AI doesn't replace humans: it frees them to do what they do best. And that's powerful. 🚀

About Klark

Klark is a generative AI platform that helps customer service agents respond faster, more accurately, without changing their tools or habits. Deployable in minutes, Klark is already used by over 50 brands and 2,000 agents.

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