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IKEA
What do chatbots and solar panels have in common? With Kruso’s AI solutions, IKEA’s chatbot helps customers match their homes and needs with the right solar panel setup, making sustainable energy more accessible.
IKEA is a renowned player in furniture and interior design, with stores in over 30 countries worldwide. With that size comes responsibility. As part of their strategy to reduce their climate footprint, IKEA has entered the sustainable energy market. Their goal is to make renewable energy accessible to more people and support the transition to a more sustainable future, including selling solar panels in selected countries.
A complex task that required clear solutions
When IKEA decided to expand their sustainability efforts with solar panels, they faced several technical and communicative challenges. Introducing customers to a new product like solar panel systems, which require technical understanding and adaptation to individual needs, demanded a solution that was both informative and user-friendly. At the same time, the platform needed to integrate into IKEA’s existing digital ecosystem and operate in multiple languages to accommodate their global markets.
AI as a tool for understanding and engagement
The solution was a combination of a chatbot and an app. The chatbot was designed to guide customers through the process of finding the right solar panel setup for their homes. Using AI and Google Maps API, the chatbot could analyze data such as the customer’s address, roof orientation, and energy consumption. The result was a tailored calculation of costs and benefits for each specific customer.
The app allows customers to track their energy production and gain insights into the collective impact in their communities. Built on established technologies such as Microsoft Bot Framework and Umbraco CMS, the system ensures flexibility and multilingual functionality, allowing the initiative to be rolled out across borders in the future.
Tangible results
The solution was first launched in Poland with impressive results. It has enabled IKEA to reach more customers and build greater awareness of renewable energy. Key outcomes include:
Reduced manual work through automation.
Enhanced customer experiences with personalized, unique solutions.
Seamless integration with existing systems for smooth operations.
Scaling a CMS for global operations
How do you scale a CMS for a global giant like IKEA? With Contentful as their chosen platform, IKEA faced the challenge of optimizing the system for their complex, decentralized structure. Kruso stepped in as a strategic partner.
