The best interface is no interface. Talking all things Voice.

Today, nearly one in five US adults have access to a smart speaker according to new research from Voicebot.ai, this works out at an adoption rate of around 20% or 47.3 million US adults.

UK adoption has been even quicker, with 35%-50% of households expected to have an Amazon Echo by 2021.

These are impressive numbers, but perhaps the most revealing statistic is that smart speakers have had a faster adoption rate than the iPhone.

Brand uptake is growing fast

The world’s biggest brands are already building voice skills which consumers are adopting into their everyday lives, and increased competition between Amazon and Google is bringing new features and increased integration, driving an almost daily transformation of voice capabilities. 

30% of Google searches on mobile now voice-driven

Source: Google

Carrying out routine tasks or chores

Voice makes putting on the washing machine, turning up the heating, dimming the lights or even booking an appointment seamless. It’s ideal for: 

• Controlling the smart home 
• Checking calendars and booking appointments 
• Controlling tools and machinery such as medical or factory equipment hands-free 
• Quick retail transactions, such as bank transfers or reordering a pizza 

Searching for discrete information in a large databank 

When you need to find something specific but you need that information quickly, voice has a huge advantage over visual navigations. Great if you’re quickly looking for: 

• An individual transaction on a bank statement 
• The last train on a Friday night 
• What time a TV show airs 

Entertaining and engaging 

Voice offers a new way to engage consumers with rich, tailored content and activations including: 

• Immersive, interactive media experiences like game shows and build-your-own adventure style narratives 
• Fast and easy access to libraries of rich media content 
• Offering extensions to existing media, like behind the scenes and cast interviews 

Data Capture

From clinical trials to bespoke surveys, polls and questionnaires, data capture is already being transformed by voice. With voice you can: 

• Create checklists for shopping, going on holiday, or moving house 
• Capture and update user data 
• Automatically write up data reports 

Instant, hands-free access to information

This is one of voice’s biggest advantages, especially if you’re concentrating on other complex tasks; there’s no need to stop to manually search and then look at a screen. It’s perfectly suited for: 

• Use in home or cars for travel and weather updates 
• Requesting and following recipes while cooking 
• Accessing how-tos, like tips on stain removal, household DIY or basic first aid

Media and entertainment

Skills are being used to help launch movies and TV shows with users being asked to solve mysteries, influence stories, or unlocking bonus or behind the scenes content. Some media companies like the BBC have created complete experiences created specifically for voice, while others like our own Human Test for Channel 4’s Humans tie in to existing or upcoming shows to create excitement and engage core fans.

Smart home

The Amazon Echo solved one of the biggest problems of the smart home by becoming a single, completely natural interface which could be used by anyone, not just those with the right apps and logins. With deep integrations already announced for televisions and other household appliances like the UK-first Google Home action for Honeywell, and home-builders designing new houses with connected technologies at the forefront, a primarily voice-driven smart home isn’t far away.

Finance

Using a voice assistant to check your balance or make a payment is straightforward; after all, we’ve been doing this over the phone for years. But how about quickly checking how much you spent in a particular store last month? Or browsing and purchasing insurance quotes? Or the approximate wait time at a particular branch? Voice promises to make these simple yet valuable interactions seamless. New technological advancements like voice biometrics will also address and alleviate security concerns, and encourage users to regard chatting to a voice assistant as trustworthy as talking to their bank teller.

Healthcare

In the US, they already have KidsMD, an Alexa skill that answers worried parents’ queries about their children’s symptoms, and in Boston Children’s Hospital, Alexa is being used to provide basic intelligence on medicine dosage, specific medical protocols and staff contact details. In the future, voice could ultimately be linked to patient data, meaning on-demand and personalised advice and support for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Transport and logistics

The next few years will see most new vehicles equipped with built-in voice assistants, meaning drivers and passengers will benefit from a range of services like live updating journey times, best routes, and pre-ordering coffee from a service station a few miles ahead. Hands-free access also means less distraction for drivers, and with driverless technology on the horizon the car becomes a true hub for purchasing, commerce and entertainment.

Utilities

You can already check balances or submit meter readings for utility companies such as EDF and British Gas. Soon your voice assistant will be able to troubleshoot maintenance issues, monitor and proactively spot problems, notify users about unusual or heavily increased usage patterns and arrange maintenance appointments.

Service Industry/FMCG

Voice is already part of the daily routines of millions of smart speaker owners, making it a prime target for consumer goods brands. This industry is well aware that we’re all creatures of habit; most people have a standard coffee they order every day, or even a favourite takeaway. “Order my Starbucks” is already here, but more complex interactions where your regular and irregular purchase routines are learned and actioned by voice assistants is not far away.

Retail

Voice is a natural fit for adding items to a shopping list or easily reordering your favourite pizza or detergent for the kitchen. While shopping for more complex or visual products, like electronics or clothes, isn’t currently an optimal experience by voice, upcoming smart screens and tv integrations promise to smooth the purchase process even for these products. Engagement beyond the transaction provides an opportunity too, imagine buying flat-pack furniture then getting step-by-step instructions on how to assemble it. In the future, voice assistants could also provide which aisle a particular item is located in and offer product tips and recommendations.

Amazon Echo

• 62% of the smart speaker market
• Currently on sale in 89 Countries
• 10s of millions of devices sold
• Over 50k 3rd party skills

Google Home

• 27% of the smart speaker market
• Currently on sale in 16 Countries
• 15 million devices sold