SINGAPORE (April 5): Philips Lighting has announced the launch of a new chatbot service on its Singapore Facebook page, which allows users to purchase the group’s consumer products conversationally through the Facebook messenger platform.

The service can be accessed by looking up “Philips Lighting Singapore” in Facebook’s Messenger contact search feature.

In a release issued on Wednesday, Phillips Lighting claims to be the first lighting solutions company to announce the launch of a chatbot, a term used to refer to a computer program designed to simulate human conversation via artificial intelligence.

Facebook users now will be able to receive round-the-clock assistance in making their lighting purchase decisions through the chatbot, which responds with product recommendations and allows users to make a purchase directly.

The company adds that the launch of its chatbot is one of several initiatives it has undertaken for its LEDs Get Smart campaign, which aims to educate consumers on the benefits of installing “the right lights” at home.

Under this campaign, Phillips Lighting adds that it has also partnered with Lazada Singapore to launch its “first-ever speciality e-store” on the latter’s e-commerce platform.

“The partnership with Facebook and Lazada Singapore will serve as an excellent opportunity for Philips Lighting to tap onto the growing e-commerce market segment to unlock new business revenue,” comments Alok Ghose, managing director and cluster leader for Philips Lighting in Singapore, Malaysia and Exports.

“These platforms will enable us to bring light beyond illumination to Singaporean households, connecting their home lighting systems to the Internet of Things, a viable first step in building homes in a Smart Nation,” he adds.