While Sacha the AI bot is not revolutionary, it brings a very personalized feel to the process that is sure to appeal to consumers. The Firedrop editor is still in beta mode when I tested it; but impressively enough it already has more than 4,000 sign-ups.
The Firedrop.ai concept developed in 2015 and as far as I know, is the first website builder to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) elements in its build.
Firedrop.ai Features
This is another of the site builders that places emphasis on ‘single page’ sites, which means you’re your content sections run vertically, with sections linked to their headers on the same page. It also comes with a ton of free templates to choose from and very usefully, also a good gallery of stock images that can help in your design.
Once you’ve signed up with Firedrop, you’ll meet Sacha, your (not so) personal AI assistant. Sacha works much like a chatbot and having a short conversation with her (or him, or it) will help build your website. While the actual process did not seem like anything ground-breaking, I must say that in terms of site builders, this was a unique experience.
The short question and answer routine results in your initial scratch site, which you can then modify to your liking.
Meet Sacha, your friendly AI site builder personality.
Firedrop has pre-built sections, but a limited number of them.
In terms of components that can be added on, while Firedrop has the standard sections available such as contact pages, about page and so on, the extra frills are missing.
There is no blog option, nor can you set up a virtual store or even embed an interactive Google Map. I suppose that ties in to this being a basic, quick-to-use site builder.
Pricing
Firedrop prices itself from free to £15 per month with the free account able to host a single web page that comes with Firedrop branding.
For paid accounts, there are two options and both allow your own brand to dominate. The Plus account allows you to create multiple web pages.
The Firedrop editor is still currently in beta mode, but impressively enough it already has more than 4,000 sign-ups. One of those, Barn Bros automotive shop has done a decent job of using limited resources to build a basic, yet decent site. The site is hosted on a free domain provided by Firedrop.
Having run the gamut of website builders, I feel that Firedrop is looking towards an area that is very important for futureproofing. Where the past has seen companies mass-produce to cater to huge customer bases, today they need to produce for customers who are seeking customization and uniqueness. While Sacha the AI bot is not revolutionary, it brings a very personalized feel to the process that is sure to appeal to consumers.
Timothy Shim is a writer, editor, and tech geek. Starting his career in the field of Information Technology, he rapidly found his way into print and has since worked with International, regional and domestic media titles including ComputerWorld, PC.com, Business Today, and The Asian Banker. His expertise lies in the field of technology from both consumer as well as enterprise points of view.