The Safe Store (Facebook Messenger Hackathon)
A chat-bot with Facebook's messenger platform with NodeJS to help small stores with safety restrictions during COVID-19, submitted as the entry for the Facebook Messenger Hackathon 2020.
5/1/2020 - 6/30/2020
https://github.com/mikempala/the-safe-store- bot
- hackathon
- JavaScript
- Node.js
- Heroku
Background
I participated in the Facebook Hackathon: Messaging 2020. In a team of 3, we developed a chatbot that helps retail stores safely interact with their customers. Shoppers use their phones to chat with a bot that acts as a shopping assistant, without risking them or the staff.
Challenge
COVID-19 has affected us in many ways, including the way we shop. Before the pandemic hit, we could go to any retail store or mall without worrying about crowded areas. With so much focus on online shopping, we thought it would be great to find a way to support retail stores. Our challenge was how to create comfortable interactions between a sales representative and a customer, while maintaining a safe social distance.
Our solution
A Facebook Messenger’s chatbot that serves as a sales representative. You only need to scan a QR code, login to Facebook’s Messenger, and answer a set of questions related to which product you’re looking for. Once you answer the questions, you’ll receive all the items that match your query, and you can choose which one you want.
How would it be used?
Sarah enters a Cartier store. She follows the COVID19’s best practices: wearing a mask, and not getting too close to anyone, including the staff.
There is a screen with a QR code displayed and some instructions. She scans the QR with her phone, and the link opens Facebook Messenger; a chatbot attends to Sarah, creating a personalized chat.
This is a screen with the QR code
The chatbot provides a series of questions in the form of quick replies: What type of jewelry are you looking for? Rings, necklaces, earrings, or bracelets?
Which metal? White gold, rose gold, or yellow gold? What size?
Finally, the item is selected and forwarded to the store.
What I learned?
This was my first time using Node.js and working with the Facebook Messaging API. In this project, I set up the backend infrastracture and the decision tree in the Messenger. I learned a lot about setting up an express.js server and I used this going forward in my projects.