Cotor, Libris’ AI bookseller, is Romania’s first intelligent virtual bookseller and a filter in the multitude of book recommendations
In the first weeks after launch, Cotor, Libris’ AI bookseller, generated more than 50,000 messages, with an average of 7 questions per session, demonstrating strong reader interest and confirming that Romanian readers were ready for a more…
In the first weeks after launch, Cotor, Libris’ AI bookseller, generated more than 50,000 messages, with an average of 7 questions per session, demonstrating strong reader interest and confirming that Romanian readers were ready for a more intuitive way to discover books.
The launch comes at a time when the use of AI chatbots in online shopping is rapidly growing worldwide. According to specialized studies* in the e-commerce industry, shoppers who interact with AI chatbots convert at a rate of 12.3%, compared with 3.1% for those who do not use such assistance nearly four times higher. Moreover, consumers who receive AI assistance complete their purchases 47% faster.
"Cotor is our answer to one of the biggest challenges of an online bookstore: how do we help readers find the right title in a catalog of more than one million books, whenever they need guidance? Traditional filters work when you know exactly what you’re looking for, but readers often need a conversation, questions and answes, just like they would have with a bookseller in a physical bookstore. Interestingly, the number of calls and direct messages to our support team, which remains active with the same structure and schedule, has not decreased since Cotor was launched. This shows that the project serves an audience that feels more comfortable chatting or wants ultra-fast responses and round-the-clock access,” said Loredana Tudor, Marketing Manager at Libris
From filters to conversation: the bookseller who never sleeps
Unlike traditional search filters based on category, genre, or price, the AI Bookseller understands complex questions written in natural language, such as: “What book similar to ‘The Little Prince’ could I buy for an 8-year-old with a budget of 50 lei?” or “I’m looking for a book about Japanese gardens, but something accessible for beginners.”
Data from the first weeks of operation shows that users quickly discovered the advantages of conversational search compared to traditional browsing. The most frequent types of questions addressed to the AI Bookseller include:
✅ Age-based recommendations (especially for children): “What book is suitable for a 5-year-old?” or “For what age is book X recommended?”
✅ Book summaries: “What is book X about? Can you summarize it?”
✅ Similar books: “I want something like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë” or “Recommend authors like Freida McFadden.”
✅ Budget-based recommendations: “What good books can I find under 30 lei?” or “I want to create a 100-lei gift with several books for teenagers."
