Mumbai: Amara is an embodied chatbot powered by Artificial Intelligence. Founded in 2016 with an idea to automate HR processes, Amara began with a recruitment automation product – HireXP and served as a voice-based feature that constantly kept asking candidates relevant questions throughout their recruitment cycle. It successfully predicted which candidates would join after accepting an offer letter. Later in 2019, it was extended to employee engagement strategies when Amara was conceived as an AI chatbot.
Employees are the biggest assets for any business organisation. In this increasingly growing war for talent, every employer wants to attract, grow and retain the best industry talent. However, highly productive and engaged employees do not come easy and HRs have to invest heavily into strategic recruitment tools and processes. Considering this scenario, Amara was launched to transform the employee experience with an AI chatbot to predict, engage and nurture employees’ lifecycles to future proof the business growth.
Indiantelevision.com caught up with Amara AI co-founder & CEO Vikas Kakkar, where he shared invaluable insights into the innovative approach and impactful mission driving this company.
Edited excerpts
On the development of Amara as an AI-powered chatbot for HR processes, and its evolution since 2016
The inspiration behind the development of Amara as an AI-powered chatbot was to revolutionize the employee experience through enhanced engagement strategies. Amara has evolved into an intelligent chatbot specifically designed to boost employee engagement within organizations.
Since its inception, Amara has seen significant evolution and has proven highly successful in its purpose. Originally founded to develop an interactive AI chatbot, our HRTech company has prioritized streamlining interactions and automating tasks related to employee engagement. Amara simplifies these processes and delivers valuable real-time insights into workforce sentiment. By utilizing our chatbot, companies can gain a deep understanding of their employees' experiences, pinpoint the root causes of disengagement, and enable proactive measures to address concerns and effectively manage employee satisfaction.
Our ultimate goal remains to support businesses in fostering a positive work environment, with Amara serving as a powerful tool in achieving this objective.
On explaining your engagagement with employees throughout their lifecycle within an organization
Amara.ai engages with employees throughout their lifecycle within an organization by facilitating continuous, personalized interactions tailored to key milestones in their workplace journey. From the moment an employee joins, Amara begins its engagement by supporting a smooth onboarding process. This includes providing essential information and promptly answering any questions to help new hires integrate seamlessly into the company culture.
As employees progress, Amara initiates scheduled check-ins at critical intervals, such as 30 days, 60 days, and beyond, to assess their adjustment and satisfaction levels. These regular interactions help in gathering valuable feedback and addressing any emerging concerns early on.
Even during the exit stage, Amara conducts thoughtful exit interviews and gathers departing feedback to ensure a smooth transition and to collect insights that drive ongoing organizational improvements. This comprehensive approach not only enriches the employee experience but also equips HR teams with crucial data to refine their engagement and retention strategies effectively.
On specific features you offer to enhance employee engagement, well-being, and diversity within the workplace
Amara.ai offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance employee engagement and well-being within the workplace. Through AI-driven personalized interactions, Amara ensures that every employee feels valued and heard from the moment they onboard. This personal touch helps in creating a welcoming and supportive work environment.
Amara conducts regular well-being assessments to monitor factors such as stress levels, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. These assessments provide HR teams with the data necessary to implement targeted initiatives aimed at improving overall employee well-being.
In terms of promoting workplace diversity, Amara analyzes engagement data across various demographics to identify any disparities. This analysis helps in understanding diverse employee experiences and shaping initiatives that support an inclusive work environment.
Additionally, Amara offers a platform for real-time feedback, enabling organizations to address employee concerns promptly and effectively, which is crucial for maintaining high levels of satisfaction and engagement.
By leveraging these features, Amara.ai not only boosts employee engagement but also supports a healthier, more inclusive workplace. This strategic approach ensures that all employees feel supported and motivated throughout their tenure at the company.
On the scalability of Amara's solutions, particularly in catering to organizations ranging from startups to large enterprises with thousands of employees
Amara.ai's solutions are designed with scalability at their core, making them suitable for organizations of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises with thousands of employees. For startups and small businesses, Amara offers an affordable, subscription-based model that provides access to advanced AI-powered employee engagement tools without significant upfront costs. As these organizations grow, Amara's flexible infrastructure allows for seamless scaling, ensuring that the platform can handle increasing data volumes and user interactions efficiently. For larger enterprises, Amara's robust analytics and customizable features cater to the complex needs of diverse and expansive workforces. The platform's ability to integrate with existing HR systems and software ensures smooth implementation and operation, regardless of the organization's size. Additionally, Amara's advanced algorithms and real-time data processing capabilities enable it to provide actionable insights and personalized interactions at scale. This adaptability and scalability ensure that Amara can effectively support the engagement, well-being, and diversity initiatives of any organization, fostering a positive and productive workplace culture as they grow.
On planning to utilize the company’s current revenue and headcount growth to drive future market penetration
We plan to leverage Amara.ai’s current revenue and headcount growth to drive future market penetration through several strategic initiatives. Firstly, we will invest in advanced research and development to enhance our AI capabilities and introduce innovative features that meet the evolving needs of our clients. This continuous innovation will help us stay ahead in the competitive HR technology landscape. Secondly, we aim to expand our sales and marketing teams to reach new markets and increase brand awareness. By building a strong global presence, we can attract a diverse range of customers and establish Amara.ai as a leader in employee engagement solutions. Additionally, we will focus on forging strategic partnerships with key players in the HR and technology sectors, allowing us to integrate our solutions into a broader ecosystem and offer added value to our clients. Lastly, we will prioritize customer success by expanding our support and service teams, ensuring that our clients receive exceptional assistance and derive maximum benefit from our platform. By aligning our growth strategies with these key areas, we are confident in our ability to drive market penetration and achieve sustained success in the global market.
On the key priorities and milestones that Amara aims to achieve in the upcoming fiscal year
In the upcoming fiscal year, Amara is excited to introduce several innovative features designed to enhance user experience and drive employee engagement. Among these new features are advanced AI-powered analytics that provides deeper insights into employee sentiment, customizable dashboards for tailored reporting, and enhanced web app functionality to ensure seamless access on the go. Additionally, we are thrilled to announce our strategic expansion into the African market. Recognizing the immense potential and dynamic growth of this region, we aim to bring our cutting-edge employee engagement solutions to businesses across Africa, helping them to foster a more engaged and productive workforce. Our commitment to innovation and global expansion underscores our dedication to sustaining Amara’s rapid growth and delivering exceptional value to our clients worldwide
