Abstract:
This study aims to develop an artificial intelligence-based chatbot system
specifically designed to improve the quality of educational information services at SMK
Negeri 7 Medan. The background of this study is that the information service system is
still manual and limited to working hours, often resulting in delayed responses, especially
for students and parents who need quick access to school information. Therefore, the
proposed solution is the development of a chatbot that utilizes Natural Language
Processing (NLP) technology to understand students' everyday language, including
abbreviations and common terms. This chatbot is capable of providing 24/7 service and
can be accessed through the school's website. System testing shows that the chatbot can
respond to questions in less than 3 seconds and can serve up to 30 users simultaneously.
Additionally, the chatbot successfully provides relevant answers to common questions
about academic programs, facilities, and extracurricular activities. With the
implementation of this system, SMK Negeri 7 Medan can improve communication
efficiency and provide faster, more practical, and easily accessible information to all
stakeholders, without relying on working hours or limited human resources. This research
is expected to serve as a foundational step in the digital transformation of educational
information services at the vocational high school level.
