I have been looking into hiring someone to build a Chatbot for my business because I simply don't have the time in the day to do it on my own and don't feel like I have the technical expertise to do it well.

What I am looking to create would be a cross-platform bot (SMS, Messenger, Web) that would integrate with our CRM and web content to help gather qualify leads and also function as a tour guide for information on our website (instead of a traditional search bar). So far I have looked into FlowXO as a potential option and have reached out to companies to gather additional information.

My questions are: 1. Without diving and using a bot platform, how can I evaluate whether it might be a good option to use or just a nifty looking website that won't provide a bot that is robust enough to handle our needs? 2. What is the best way to source and qualify companies and freelancers so I can get a solid bot(s) built without having to grossly overpay out of fear of not getting the right result?