I recently purchased digital assistants for my home, which got me thinking about how I can make the most of these devices in my personal and professional life. The digital assistant or voice assistant is a voice-activated device that can perform basic tasks for you. Voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home give people information on demand and are easily integrated into their daily lives. The Pwc notes that most common uses for voice assistants include, checking the weather or news, playing music, search for something that would normally be typed into a search engine, sending a text or email, and asking a quick questions. Advancements in a number of industries are helping digital voice assistants become more sophisticated and useful for everyday use. Voice has now established itself as the ultimate mobile experience.
Pew Research indicates that more than 45% of Americans use a virtual assistant on a regular basis and 42% of them use mobile devices. Consumers view voice assistants in appositive light. When compared to everyday devices and activities, voice assistants are viewed as being smarter, easier, and faster. Additional voice assistants, allow people to stay connected without feeling shackled life demands. Shayne Sherman, CEO of TechLoris, shares how his digital assistant helps him be present at home without being distracted by work obligations.
“Because I run a business, I’m often away from home working. So, when I am home, I power off my phone and computer to be fully present,” Sherman said. “Having Google Home still allows me to satisfy the occasional curiosity or jam out to a song with my little kid — without risking turning on my computer and seeing an urgent notification” (Clutch)
It is predicted that once there is a solid foundation of trust and reliability, voice assistants will transform lives everywhere. The voice assistant market is project to be worth $122 billion by 2024. IoT technology will play a significant role in the future of virtual assistants. IoT technology allows people to connect multiple virtual assistants and create a digital network of smart devices. As the number of IoT devices such as smart thermostats, appliances, and speakers are equipped with voice assistants the more likely the voice assistant are to become the hubs of our connected homes and increasingly connected lives.
With this opportunity, brands are working hard to figure out their voice strategy. Voice shopping is primed to generate billions per year in revenue and global ad spending on voice assistants—currently nonexistent— is projected to reach $19 billion by 2022; however, companies are struggling to develop an comprehensive voice strategy due to a lack of skills and knowledge. The voice assistant technology is still in its infancy. There is a lot of opportunity for much deeper and much more conversational experiences with customers. The question is, is your organization ready to embrace into voice assistants at part of your marketing strategy?
References
“7 Key Predictions For The Future Of Voice Assistants And AI: Clearbridge.” Clearbridge Mobile, 18 July 2019, clearbridgemobile.com/7-key-predictions-for-the-future-of-voice-assistants-and-ai/.
PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Consumer Intelligence Series: Prepare for the Voice Revolution.” PwC, www.pwc.com/us/en/services/consulting/library/consumer-intelligence-series/voice-assistants.html.
Shiklo, Boris, et al. “IoT Technology and Smart Devices in the Home.” IoT Technology and Smart Devices in the Home | Clutch.co, clutch.co/developers/internet-of-things/resources/iot-technology-smart-devices-home.
“Voice Assistants Used by 46% of Americans, Mostly on Smartphones.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 25 Aug. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/12/12/nearly-half-of-americans-use-digital-voice-assistants-mostly-on-their-smartphones/.
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