The agency cooperated with local technology company PT Artina Digitama Indonusa (Artdigi) to launch the new virtual assistant, which evolved from chat robot (chatbot) technology, on May 25 at the  BAZNAS headquarters in Jakarta.

The personified chatbot, which BAZNAS has named ‘Zaki’, short for muzaki (alms donors in Arabic), is equipped with the natural language processing algorithm, allowing the robot to act as a virtual assistant by conversing with customers while analyzing their needs and questions before coming up with solutions for them.

The virtual assistant is capable of performing various feats, such as counting one’s zakat accurately, while providing public education on BAZNAS’ various social and humanity activities. Zaki will also soon upgrade itself to feature maps that will help people locate a nearby mosque, daily prayer schedules and sermon materials from various preachers.

Users can access Zaki, the virtual zakat assistant, through the LINE Messenger application under the name of @zakibaznas. The service will also soon be available through the Facebook Messenger live chat application.

The new innovation’s official launch was attended by the Religious Affairs Ministry's alms and loans empowerment director, Fuad Nashar. BAZNAS deputy ArifinPurwakananta said that BAZNAS had launched the digital assistant to help the general public pay alms in an easier, faster, more convenient and friendlier manner.

“The information technology (IT) development has posed some challenges for zakat service providers to keep abreast with it to connect all lines of its distribution. Therefore, BAZNAS has a public campaign to raise more awareness about zakat payments through various online communication channels to make it easier for donors to access its services,” Arifin said.

He added that the innovation also sought to boost the growth of zakat payments nationwide.

Artdigi CEO Ari Lastina said that Zaki was developed in response to the increasing needs of donors to get information on how to complete their zakat transactions.

“The development of chatbot innovations has driven Artdigi to integrate their various functions, not merely to engage users but also to promote BAZNAS’ various products, while providing information on how to buy certain products and optimizing the function of chatbot innovations to enhance their convenience and social function aspects,” Ari explained.

Through a human touch approach, both BAZNAS and Artdigi hope that the Zaki virtual assistant will prompt the general public to be more active in paying alms to improve socioeconomic welfare in Indonesia.

Popular

Bali flights canceled after Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano eruption

Many flights to Bali cancelled after East Nusa Tenggara volcano eruption

Early school a new burden