Zumata, which claims to be the “world’s only artificial intelligence-powered hotel distribution and technology company”, is expanding into Asia.

Having established a presence in North America, Zumata is now aiming to bring its AI capabilities, including chatbots, to the travel industry in Asia. As part of this expansion, Zumata recently established a new headquarters in Singapore.

“The trust from our global partners has helped us to grow rapidly in the past few years. We believe that Asia holds many major opportunities and untapped potential,” Josh Ziegler, CEO of Zumata. “As we grow aggressively in the region, we hope to capitalise on the growth of the Asia travel market and the need for companies to undergo digital transformations to remain competitive and expand.”

Zumata has already started introducing its AI-driven chatbots to the region. These chatbots can speak to customers in a conversational, “human” way, handling multiple questions and scenarios.

“Zumata’s chatbot platform is an industry-agnostic tool that can provide instant, automated, and most importantly, genuine customer engagement for businesses. I believe it will completely transform the way that businesses interact with consumers,” Ziegler added.

As well as the ability to talk to customers, the chatbot can detect “confusion or anxiousness”, according to Zumata, at which time it will transfer the customer to live support. The new innovation also allows for product comparisons and payments via e-wallet or credit card.