In 2023, the digital health industry is expected to establish itself as a major trend in the medical market. According to recent articles published in U.S. monthly magazines such as Forbes and Tech Native, AI and chatbots, which have expanded through non-face-to-face services, are receiving particular attention.
AI chatbots, a representative artificial intelligence-based solution, have driven the scope of digital economic activities based on information technology (IT) platforms such as online platforms and have sparked non-face-to-face innovation in the industry. They have already been distributed to hundreds of hospitals and clinics in Korea, achieving automation, and recently, with the development of new technologies like ChatGPT (hereinafter ChatGTP), enthusiasm and interest in chatbots have increased even further.
Chatbots bring various advantages to hospitals, including reducing labor costs, improving management efficiency, and increasing sales through higher registration and visit rates. Additionally, they have established themselves as a representative non-face-to-face service that enhances accessibility and convenience for patients, making the adoption of chatbots indispensable in the medical industry.
Makebot's chatbot service is based on KakaoTalk, allowing communication with patients non-face-to-face 24/7 without the need to install a separate app. In addition to excellent accessibility, it can handle reservations, registrations, and payments, making it capable of responding to the recent resurgence of COVID-19.
Hospitals and clinics do not need to install special equipment or separate systems when adopting chatbots, reducing the burden of operating costs.
Amid the digital transformation craze in the healthcare market centered on hospitals and clinics, the recent hot topic is undoubtedly the "digital front door." For various non-face-to-face medical services to be effectively delivered to consumers, appropriately presenting digital touchpoints determines the success or failure of the healthcare industry's digital transformation. In this context, KakaoTalk, used by over 50 million people nationwide, has become an essential element for chatbot success.
Makebot is the only domestic company operating various healthcare chatbot businesses ranging from primary to tertiary hospitals and pharmaceutical companies using KakaoTalk. As an AI-specialized company and official Kakao partner, it provides various non-face-to-face services for hospitals and clinics through integration with major EMR (Electronic Medical Record) providers based on KakaoTalk.
In fact, many major dermatology, plastic surgery, and Korean medicine clinics in Korea, such as Tox & Feel, Maypure Clinic, U & I Clinic, Nubebe Korean Medicine Clinic, and Banobagi, are eagerly adopting Makebot. Recently, Makebot's services have expanded beyond appointment reservations to cover registration, medical questionnaires, waiting calls, consultations, health management, and patient management, intensifying the adoption trend not only in major specialized hospitals but also in tertiary general hospitals such as Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yangji Hospital, Jeju Hanguk Hospital, and Red Cross Hospital.
Beyond hospitals and clinics, leading domestic and international pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Korea Eisai, and Anguk Pharmaceutical are building AI chatbots to strengthen marketing and improve user convenience, receiving great responses. Makebot is innovating comprehensively in the healthcare field.
Among many healthcare industry vendors, pharmaceutical companies face fierce competition and have diverse products, resulting in high demand for Makebot's chatbot services. Accordingly, pharmaceutical companies have built MR (Medical Representative) chatbots for internal staff, enabling easy access to product information anytime and anywhere, thereby improving work efficiency.
Sales representatives can more easily resolve inquiries or suggestions from doctors or pharmacists through chatbots even while working in the field. Rapid provision of drug information for marketing purposes has also become possible.
In particular, pharmaceutical companies operate member-exclusive chatbot services applying verification technology between member data and input data to ensure strict security systems accessible only to limited members.
For general users, pharmaceutical customer chatbot channels provide customer authentication and matching with responsible medical personnel (such as nurses), offering services such as medication cycle reminders for various products including growth hormones and respiratory drugs.
Thus, by distinguishing usage areas into chatbots for internal pharmaceutical staff and sales employees, doctor members, and general customers, the scope of use has expanded. Based on high efficiency, it has received favorable reviews for enabling interactive communication tailored to user characteristics, making it easy for anyone to use.
Makebot CEO Kim Ji-woong stated, “With the full-scale adoption of MakebotH in specialized hospitals and university/general hospitals in various fields, more than 100,000 users are secured monthly. Upon adoption, labor costs are reduced by up to 50%, reservation occupancy rates increase by 75%, and reservation growth rates exceed 30%, demonstrating that the expected effects of non-face-to-face services through chatbots are being realized.”
He added, “Regarding the health tech business, we have signed business agreements with MaeKyung Health and Jeju Hanguk Hospital, providing AI technology benefits to various hospitals and clinics, leading the healthcare industry. Hospital and clinic chatbots are attracting attention as essential solutions in the medical industry by providing convenience to patients through work automation and increasing visit rates. With the application of new technologies such as ChatGPT, interest in chatbots has further increased, and they have sufficient value to contribute to future industrial development.”
Meanwhile, Makebot is a leading chatbot company continuously advancing chatbot technology by building industry-specific chatbots across industries such as aviation, finance, distribution, education, and public sectors. In the future, it plans to continue comprehensive AI innovation and chatbot innovation by integrating technologies such as ultra-large AI.
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