The rise of messaging apps has changed how people want to communicate with brands, and while some companies are taking to social networks and chatbots, their offerings leave much to be desired. Enter Hero, an app that wants to make messaging brands as easy as chatting with friends.

Most teenage girls look to their friends for beauty advice, but thanks to messaging app Kik, Sephora customers can now use a ‘chatbot’ to find out the newest tips and trends. After a talk, some emojis and a quiz, it gives the user the most relevant content to suit their beauty needs.

The number of people using messaging apps is set to hit two billion by 2018, so it’s no wonder brands want to get in on the action. Major tech players are touting chatbots as the next big thing, but can they really revolutionise online interactions, or are they just part of an industry-driven pipe dream?

More than 600 million people use Facebook Messenger each month to send texts, photos and videos. In March 2015 at the company’s F8 developer conference, Zuckerberg announced that you’ll soon be chatting to your favourite brand via the platform as easily as you do your best mate.