The Latest Trends In Healthcare Chatbot Development

Technological advancements and globalization have made chatbots and virtual assistants popular in all kinds of industries, including healthcare. Especially with an increasing rate of remote care during pandemics, it has become imperative for the healthcare industry to embrace technology.

The AI chatbot for the healthcare industry is still in the developing stages. But, recent projections show that it is expected to grow profoundly in the coming years.

This article will discuss the latest trends revolutionizing the healthcare chatbots market and how this industry is changing. Read on.

4 Top Trends Shaping The AI Chatbot For The Healthcare Industry

A recent report by Global News Wire estimated that the healthcare chatbot market was worth USD 184.60 million in 2021 (the company Topflight Apps talks about its experience in the development of chatbots in its blog at the link). 

By 2028, the value of this market is expected to reach USD 431.47 million! This further means that chatbot technology in healthcare will become increasingly popular shortly. And various trends are escalating this popularity.

Increase in Internet Penetration & Smartphone Usage

It comes as no shock that stronger internet connectivity and an increasing number of smartphone users across the globe have, in turn, surged the importance of chatbot technology in various industries.

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) states that about 63% of the world population had used the internet in 2020 alone. There has been an increase in smartphone users to a 3.5billion in the same year.

Accordingly, more and more people are expected to turn to the internet to seek medical advice, book appointments with doctors, or simply search for clinics in the neighborhood. And this is where medical chatbot apps prove to be beneficial.

More Venture Capital Funding

Some startups worldwide have managed to secure venture capital or seed funding by developing unique artificial intelligence healthcare chatbot systems. The presence of such startups and already established companies like Baidu, Healthily (Your. MD), Tencent, Sensely, Babylon Health, and Ada Digital Health Ltd, which offer AI-supported healthcare solutions, have increased tech awareness in the healthcare industry.

These apps continue to attract many customers every day for obvious reasons. For instance, the Healthily app can track the health progress of a patient and provide information about a disease's symptoms. Similarly, through ZINI, patients can create a unique global health ID, which can be utilized to manage their healthcare information anywhere.

Wysa is an AI-powered therapy chatbot that supports people practicing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Hence, as innovation and investment continue in this sector, the future of chatbots in the healthcare industry appears to be secure.

Advancements In Speech Recognition And NLP

Also known as Natural Language Processing, NLP software, together with speech recognition features, has improved the capabilities of AI-powered virtual assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This technology has made everyday life much easier for households, especially in the US.

Similar technology used in the healthcare industry has advanced chatbot solutions. For instance, Mediator uses NLP technology and patients' past medical records to help them understand their symptoms and possible treatments to deal with them.

Improvements In Patients' Experience

So many people are now turning to AI chatbot solutions because of the ease these apps offer. For instance, chatbots can provide information about suitable healthcare practitioners, their availability, and their location within minutes. Chatbots can also be integrated with the patient's online calendars to send timely reminders about medical appointments.

Patients in remote locations can use video conferencing chatbots to converse with healthcare practitioners. For instance, mine is a digital health platform that offers online consultation and medicine delivery services, besides patient record management services.

Final Takeaway

As the need for advancements in the healthcare industry increases, AI-powered solutions are becoming central to this sector's operations. Accordingly, AI chatbot for the healthcare industry is expected to become even more popular in the coming years and help improve patients' experiences and make it easy for everyone.