Presence AI

Presence AI, founded in 2015 by Michel Meyer, established itself as a developer of an artificial intelligence-based communications platform. The company was headquartered in San Francisco and focused on automating business-to-customer interactions through messaging and voice. A significant milestone for the startup was its participation in the 2018 Alexa Accelerator, powered by Techstars, which was backed by the Amazon Alexa Fund. This journey culminated in its acquisition by Groupon in August 2019, a move intended to enhance Groupon's booking capabilities and voucherless initiatives.

The core of Presence AI's business was providing an AI-powered text and voice communication tool that served as a 24/7 virtual assistant for merchants. The platform primarily targeted service-based industries such as health, beauty, and wellness, which represented one of Groupon's largest customer categories. Its business model centered on a subscription-based software service, with pricing tiers based on the number of users. The software was designed to integrate with a merchant's existing scheduling systems, like MindBody and Booker, or even replace traditional pen-and-paper methods. This integration allowed for the seamless management of appointments, including bookings, rescheduling, and confirmations.

Presence AI's service functioned by offering automated responses to customer queries via SMS and other messaging platforms, aiming to save businesses time and generate additional revenue by ensuring no customer interaction was missed. Key features included automated appointment scheduling, reminders, confirmations, and the ability to answer frequently asked questions around the clock. The platform used natural language processing to understand and respond to customer needs efficiently. By handling a significant portion of communications automatically—reportedly 80% of messages—it allowed business owners and staff to focus on in-person client services, thereby reducing missed calls and improving overall operational efficiency. The acquisition by Groupon was set to accelerate their roadmap by integrating this text- and chat-based interface into Groupon's existing booking experience.

Keywords: appointment scheduling, AI communication, virtual assistant, text automation, voice communication, customer messaging, automated booking, salon booking software, wellness industry tech, Groupon acquisition, Michel Meyer, client management software, AI chatbots, SMS marketing, business process automation, scheduling integration, automated reminders, lead management, customer support automation, natural language processing