Most websites know the basics about the people visiting them: whether someone’s on a phone or a laptop, using Chrome or Safari, or if they arrived from a Google search or social media. But they don’t know much beyond that, like why they arrived on the website, what they’re looking for, their price range, or any other context.
Since most websites are built on static content, they also don’t have an easy way to gather that extra information from each visitor in real time. The filters may help, but they’re limited to the categories pre-defined by the brand. It can’t ask follow-up questions or adjust based on what the visitor is actually trying to do, which leads to pretty generic experiences.
When you add an AI agent to a website or mobile app, it gives brands a way to engage visitors in a conversation to ask clarifying questions and gather the context needed to provide personalized support. And one of the most important context cues it can gather about the visitor islocation.
While most websites rely on IP addresses to estimate a visitor’s general location, ai12z AI agents use geolocation to get a much more accurate read.
An IP address might tell you the browser is in Boston, but not whether they’re in Beacon Hill or a suburb 5 miles away. That makes a big difference when someone is trying to find a restaurant nearby that they can walk to, for instance. Geolocation uses signals like GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, and mobile networks (with the user’s consent) to pinpoint an exact location.
Here are a few examples:
A renter visiting a real estate website can ask, “I’m looking for a 2-bed, 1-bath unit near me.” With the visitor’s permission, the AI agent (aka digital assistant) can use geolocation to identify their address and return a collection of nearby listings in the same neighborhood.
A shopper looking to buy new ski goggles might want to check if they’re compatible with his current helmet before committing. He asks, “I want to try these on first. Is there a store nearby with them in stock?” The agent uses geolocation, along with an integration to the brand’s inventory system, to find the closest store where the goggles are in stock. It can even pull in directions using Google Maps to help him get there.
A hotel guest might want to venture off the resort for dinner one night and asks, “What restaurants are around here?”With location context, the agent knows where "here" is and can surface nearby dining options.
It may seem like a small part of the user experience, but geolocation is real-time context - and that context is what most websites still lack. When a digital assistant knows where someone is and more context about what they’re trying to do, it can move past the generic answers and offer support that actually fits the visitor and the moment they’re in.