CEO, conversational AI: 4 reasons to pay attention

Introduction

Conversational AI fits into a long list of technology trends (internet, blockchain, metaverse). Some applications are superficial, but the genuine ones create lasting transformation. Here are four domains where this technology creates real value for software publishers.

1. It matters to your customers

Conversational AI improves efficiency by reducing time spent switching between applications. According to a Harvard Business Review study: workers lose nearly 4 hours a week just re-orienting themselves after each switch between applications (about 1,200 switches a day on average).

It also simplifies adoption: according to Whatfix’s 2023 report, 78% of business software users say they don’t feel proficient with the tools they use daily. A conversational interface reduces this friction: a user asking “what’s the status on the Martin account?” doesn’t need to know which module or which tab to check.

2. It matters to your investors

AI innovation improves brand image and valuation. According to McKinsey, top-quartile SaaS publishers on the Rule of 40 command EV/revenue multiples nearly 3x higher than bottom-quartile peers.

France is lagging, but catching up fast: per INSEE, only 6% of French companies with 10+ employees used AI in 2023, a share that rose to 10% by 2024. Publishers who make this shift now hold a competitive advantage, before that gap closes.

3. It matters to your teams

Conversational AI projects offer “quick wins” deployable within weeks. They motivate teams by including innovation in priorities and create positive momentum around the product.

From an environmental perspective, specialised language models are significantly more energy-efficient than large generic models: a study published in Scientific Reports (Nature) measured a human-to-LLM energy consumption ratio of 1,200 to 4,400 for a small specialised model, versus just 40 to 150 for a large generalist model like Llama-3-70B: a concrete argument for teams conscious of carbon impact.

4. It matters for your business

Conversational AI accelerates solution adoption, increases competitiveness and creates room to manoeuvre. It helps achieve the Rule of 40 (growth + EBITDA ≥ 40%), a key benchmark for SaaS publishers seeking investors or preparing a sale.

Conclusion

Four figures sum up the stakes: nearly 4 hours a week lost switching between applications, 78% of users who don’t feel proficient with their tools, valuation multiples nearly tripled for top-tier SaaS publishers, and AI adoption in France that’s already nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024. Publishers who engage with it today are positioning themselves to reap the benefits before this stops being an advantage and becomes the standard.