Energy supplier Spark, which specialises in deals in the rentals market with letting agents, has invested £1.5m to create an automated assistant for customers.

Tenants will be able to communicate online with the smart assistant chatbot called Ami to manage routine aspects of their account such as going paperless, submitting meter readings or accessing bills.

Much of this can already be done through Spark’s website or existing apps, but Spark says this will free up its customer service agents to deal with more complex inquiries.

Chris Gauld, chief executive of Spark, said a second release of the chatbot will include integration with live chat, the ability to set up a direct debit plan and to provide customers with top-up codes for their smart meters.

Spark is also working on a digital home move assistant that will help set up basic utilities, council tax and broadband.

Gauld said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve our customer experience and make it easy for them to engage with us.

“This is a bumper month for us, with loads of new digital tech going live after months of hard work by our in-house digital team.

“We see this as key to bringing down prices and increasing engagement amongst renters, buyers and sellers in the home move chain.

“Our customers tell us that they’re really comfortable managing their accounts at a time and in a place that suits them. We’re delighted to step up to the mark and continue to meet that need.”