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Obi (by Cor)
Onboard every user like it’s your best live call. Obi is a Screen-Aware Voice AI Agent that joins your users in a simulated video call to guide them through your product setup step-by-step. Unlike annoying pop-up tours or static videos, Obi sees what the user sees, answers questions in real-time conversation, and proactively unblocks them when they get stuck—providing a “white-glove” success experience at infinite scale.
Key Features
- Screen-Aware Guidance: Obi doesn’t just talk; it understands the user’s current screen context and can highlight UI elements to show them exactly where to click.
- Human-Like Voice Interaction: Users talk to Obi naturally (e.g., “Wait, where is the settings menu?”), and Obi responds instantly, mimicking a helpful Customer Success Manager (CSM).
- Zero-Setup Training: “Train” Obi simply by uploading your existing loom videos or help docs. It watches them to learn your workflows in minutes.
- Friction Insights: After every session, Obi generates a report for your product team highlighting exactly where users were confused or asked questions, turning support calls into data.
- 24/7 Scalability: Whether it’s 2 PM or 2 AM, every new signup gets a personalized, patience-filled onboarding session without burning out your human team.
How It Works
When a new user logs into your SaaS platform, they are greeted by Obi (which appears as a video call widget). The user accepts the “call,” and Obi begins a verbal walkthrough tailored to their persona. As the user navigates, Obi watches their progress. If the user hesitates, Obi might say, “You can find the ‘Import’ button on the top right.” If the user asks, “Does this support CSV?”, Obi answers from its knowledge base. The entire interaction feels like a Zoom call with a human expert.
Use Cases
- Complex SaaS Setup: Walking a new admin through the 20-step configuration of an enterprise ERP or CRM system.
- Feature Adoption: Proactively calling users who haven’t used a key feature (like “Reporting”) and offering a quick 2-minute guided tour.
- Trial Conversion: acting as a sales engineer during a free trial to ensure the prospect sees the “Aha!” moment without needing a scheduled demo.
- Global Support: Providing fluent, native-level onboarding in multiple languages for international customers.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: High Engagement (voice/video feels more personal than text); Reduced Time-to-Value (users don’t have to read docs); Deep Insights (qualitative data from voice conversations is richer than click tracking); Consistency (every user gets the “perfect” pitch).
- Cons: High Cost (Usage-based pricing starts at ~$750/mo, targeting mid-market/enterprise); User Hesitation (some users dislike “talking” to software); Latency Sensitivity (voice AI requires good internet); Privacy (screen sharing requires user trust).
Pricing
- Enterprise / Growth: Starts around $750/month, scaling with the number of minutes/sessions used.
- Usage Model: Pay-per-minute of active onboarding conversation.
- Free Tier: Generally not available for public signups (Demo-first sales motion).
How Does It Compare?
Obi creates a new category: “Generative Onboarding Agents.”
- Intercom Fin: The leader in text-based support. Fin answers questions via chat if the user asks. Obi is proactive and voice-first, guiding the user before they even know what to ask.
- Loom / Video Tutorials: One-way and static. If the user gets stuck on step 3 of a video, they are stranded. Obi pauses, explains, and helps them get unstuck in real-time.
- WalkMe / Pendo: These use “Tooltips” and “Overlays.” Users often find these annoying and close them immediately. Obi feels like a relationship (a call) rather than a nuisance (a pop-up).
- Bland AI / Air AI: These are “Phone Calling” agents (Sales/Support). They operate outside the product (on the phone). Obi lives inside the product (in the browser) and can see the screen.
Final Thoughts
For years, companies have tried to automate onboarding with “clippy-style” tooltips that everyone ignores. Obi finally cracks the code by mimicking the one thing that actually works: A Human Call. While the price point restricts it to high-value B2B SaaS, for companies where a single converted user is worth thousands of dollars, replacing a $60k/year CSM with a 24/7 AI agent that never sleeps is a mathematical no-brainer.
