Speech Blog

Voice technology has grown in popularity among consumers over the last few years, and the trend continues; for example, voice commands are overtaking typing as the primary way mobile device users conduct online searches. Siri, Alexa, and Google are everywhere.

But why now? Voice technology has been around for over 60 years. Dictation is not a new idea. So why has voice been taking over in just the last few years? Well, with the addition of voice recognition and an increase in accuracy, its popularity has skyrocketed. Advances in voice technology have made speaking instead of typing the popular trend, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon. With it’s rapid growth, new consumer tech is also pushing the traditional dictation market.

It’s easy to understand the appeal of voice products. Being able to perform a function simply by speaking is much more convenient than having to manually open and navigate an app. However, private consumers aren’t the only ones to benefit from these technologies. Voice is being touted as the biggest consumer tech disruption since the smartphone. And where consumer tech goes, enterprise follows. New voice technology has many potential applications across a wide range of industries.

The examples below demonstrate how organizations in fields like healthcare, retail, and finance have leveraged voice recognition technology in order to better serve their customers.

Healthcare

In a survey of medical professionals, approximately 90% of respondents said their facilities were likely to expand their usage of voice solutions.

Why? Efficiency. Using voice recognition programs allow physicians to complete documentation tasks more efficiently, while also reducing the cost of medical transcription services.

This isn’t a minor improvement. The faster physicians and hospital staff can work, the more time they have to devote to patient care. On top of that, the money that hospitals save on transcriptions can instead be used to upgrade their facilities.

Because of the benefits, it’s highly likely that voice technology will soon play a major role in most average clinics.

See how Philips solutions help physicians use their voice to increase productivity and make more time for their patients.

Retail

Several companies have already leveraged voice tech to improve the customer experience in both ecommerce and traditional brick-and-mortar retail shopping.

For instance, Domino’s offers an app that allows users to order on-the-go with voice commands. Starbucks lets customers place orders with a virtual barista through a voice activated app.

In brick-and-mortar stores, some companies are providing customer service representatives with earpieces that allow them to access key information about inventory and product details through voice commands. This allows sales staff to devote more attention to a customer’s needs.

Some brands are even finding unique ways to integrate their products with voice activation technology to improve future retail experiences. For instance, LG has developed a refrigerator that lets owners order groceries simply by speaking to it.

Essentially, voice technology makes it much easier for customers to make purchases. Retailers that take advantage of it can expect to enjoy higher sales as a result.

Finance

Financial technology products have replaced typical methods of accessing financial services thanks to the convenience they offer. Banks are making use of these technologies to ensure their customers don’t abandon them for more forward-thinking financial institutions.

For example, some banks will now allow its banking customers to open their mobile app and make payments with it using voice activation instead of a password. Some are also allowing users to open their app with their voices.

These decisions aren’t merely about giving customers a more convenient experience. Voice is considered more secure than a password: a person can steal your password, but not your voice.

As more banks embrace this option, it’s highly likely that developers will find even more ways to apply this technology to the finance industry.

See how Philips solutions can help finance professionals decrease the amount of paperwork and increase efficiency.

 

Voice recognition technology is useful in ways most people haven’t even considered yet. Companies that want to better serve their customers while also boosting the overall efficiency of their processes should consider how they can leverage these tools to their benefit.

In the near future, voice recognition may become the primary interface for digital products. Now’s the time to explore how your organization can benefit from the new voice tech.

 

Want to know more about how voice can help increase productivity in your business? Leave a comment and let us know!