Our focus is enabling digital technology to bring you more business
Align Systems Pty Ltd (Align Systems) is an Australian software company specialising in the development of WordPress websites, AI chatbots and custom software development.
Three primary markets Align Systems develops software for are tourism, accommodation and hospitality. For the tourism industry, Align develops software to help tour operators get more bookings using AI and chatbot technology. Our chatbot software QnAsheet can be used on tour operator websites or Messenger, Instagram or WhatsApp chatbots so customers can get realtime availability and ask questions like “Do you have any seats left for Saturday’s cruise?” or “What tour do you recommend for my family with 2 young children under 10?” or “Do you have availability on the 20th of November?”.
Turers® is an online travel agent owned by Align Systems leveraging its travel integration, AI and chatbot technology, allowing more customers to find exciting tours, attractions and experiences around Australia and bring more bookings to tour operators.
For the accommodation industry, Align recommends Beds24, a vacation rental channel manager and develops websites and chatbots for accommodation businesses and providers. Its AI chatbot software, QnAsheet integrates with Beds24 allowing customers to ask questions like “Do you have any vacancy for 3 people from the 10th October for 4 nights?“ or “What room do you have that would suit a family of 5, 2 adults and 3 children?”.
For hospitality, our POS Chat chatbot software allows customers to place orders using Messenger with the order sent directly to the vendor’s POS system.
A bit of history
The company was founded in 1993 by Vic Ratnieks.
We were early adopters of the internet even before email was a standard and before the term cloud computing was used. We began developing websites for online ordering, sending takeaway orders to restaurants via fax or to clothing retailers via password protected email. That was 20+ years ago when ordering online was still considered risky, but a novelty. Thank goodness faxes are now a thing of the past, we can scan and send documents from our phones and online ordering is readily accepted.
Integration between online and back end systems is still lagging
Delivery of the order to the business is still primarily done via email and in most cases still not integrated with back end systems. Most businesses run a number of different systems which unfortunately still rarely talk to each other. However, integration is slowly happening with software vendors writing Application Programming Interfaces (API) and through the mass use of Open Source software with systems like WordPress, WooCommerce and the countless plugins available. This is making software functional and affordable for the small business owner and is where we assist businesses.
Social media and messenger is driving new business
The invention of smart phones and apps on mobile devices, especially social media apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter has driven the sales of phones incredibly and has put a powerful communication and ordering device into customers hands. In recent years there’s been a migration away from SMS and texting to using messaging systems like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
This is driving a change in the way customers browse and shop for products and services. No longer are they content to fill out a contact form on a website, knowing it will be hours, if not days before someone replies. They want to engage in direct communication with the business when most convenient for them.
Chatbots work for you 24×7
An exciting new development is conversational chatbots using Facebook Messenger which tirelessly work 24×7 and can introduce the customer to your products and services and answer common questions. Connection between customer and business is seamless. Press a button and you’re connected. The customer can subscribe to ongoing communications and opt out at any time. This is changing the face of direct marketing and like it or not, it’s here and generating business. A win-win for consumer and business. e-mail marketing is still far from dead, but facing a challenge from this new way of engaging with customers.
Have a look at our chatbots service to give you an idea of what’s possible. It’s really only limited by your imagination. Want to get ahead of your competition? The time has never been more right to take action now.
We’d love to talk to you
If you’d like to have a chat, you can fill out our Contact Form. But if you can’t wait for us to read the e-mail that our Contact Form will send us and you want to talk now, click here to chat to us via Facebook Messenger. If you’re curious about how Chatbots work, click the Chat icon on the bottom right.
Thank you. We look forward to working with you and helping your business become more successful.
Join our newsletter and we’ll keep you on top of all the latest developments in web, e-commerce, chatbots, hosting and digital marketing.
We have just created a stunning new website with Vic at Align Systems for our Caravan Park- Bremer Bay Beaches Resort Tourist Park.
From start to finish, Vic has worked with us to understand our unique business needs and the goals we wished to achieve with the creation of our new site.
Align Systems has a well-structured approach to developing a client website and understanding the needs of their clients and going over and above to deliver a well thought out website design and aesthetics. We highly recommend Align Systems for any website design!
