The evolution of human-computer interaction has significantly influenced the adoption of voice assistants. Traditionally, we evaluated product features based on reliability, accuracy, and speed. However, the recent rise of generative AI has sparked a shift in evaluating technology, prioritizing factors such as trust, privacy, empathy, and user comfort. Apartment voice assistants exemplify how these new assessments drive product adoption, usage, and user satisfaction.
What is a Voice Assistant?
How Voice Assistants Work: The Magic Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes, voice assistants utilize complex algorithms and machine-learning models to transform spoken words into meaningful actions. Conversational AI platforms help users manage that complexity by guiding your voice assistant to understand, process, and respond to user responses with natural human responses.
At its core, here is a simplified overview of how voice assistants work:
Wake Word Detection
Once user permissions have been confirmed, voice assistants listen in the background for a specific wake word, such as "Hey Siri" or "Alexa" or a simple “Hello.” When the wake word is detected, it triggers the assistant to start listening for user commands.
Speech Recognition
Once the voice assistant is activated, it captures the user's spoken commands and converts them into text using speech recognition technology. This involves breaking down the audio input into smaller components, such as phonemes and words, and matching them with pre-trained language models.
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
After the voice commands are transcribed into text, the voice assistant uses natural language processing techniques to understand the user's intent and extract relevant information. This involves analyzing the grammar, syntax, and semantics of the user's query to generate a meaningful response.
Action and Response
Once the user's intent is understood, the voice assistant initiates the appropriate action or response. This could range from providing information, executing a specific task, controlling connected devices, or even interacting with third-party applications or services through integrations.
Key Features and Functionalities of Voice Assistants
Conversational AI platforms help expand voice assistant features and capabilities, beyond the built-in features, by letting users create skills. A skill can be used by various types of voice assistants to drive product adoption and usage.
Categories of Features and Function
Personalized Assistance
Voice assistants can learn and adapt to individual preferences, providing personalized recommendations and suggestions based on user behavior and past interactions.
Smart Home Integration
Voice assistants can control and automate smart home devices, allowing users to conveniently adjust settings, turn on/off lights, control temperature, or even lock doors using voice commands.
Hands-Free Convenience
One of the significant advantages of voice assistants is their ability to offer hands-free interaction. With Digital Human, we let our users customize their conversations based on how renters are responding to questions in the chat to help nurture higher quality leads. By voice, prospects can:
- Check pricing and availability
- Access customized FAQs for each property
- Look at property photos and videos
- Schedule a tour
Third-Party App Integration
Voice assistants provide integrations with various third-party applications and services.
Continuous Learning and Improvement
Voice assistants evolve through updates, improving the user experience. By focusing on what they can and can’t answer, users and developers can enhance their capabilities. New features, enhancements, and bug fixes provide users with refined and satisfying experiences.
Voice Assistant Use Cases: From Personal Assistance to Customer Service
AI voice assistants have been primarily used to drive automated customer experiences by managing our calendars, setting reminders, making phone calls, sending messages, and answering general questions.
Smart Home Control
We are all familiar with Phillips Hue and smart lighting controls. What’s good to note here is how big brands are partnering up to expand smart home control features. Amazon and Disney are creating magical customer experiences where guests can request “more blankets and towels, or ask for park & transportation hours” with the most popular Disney personalities to voice the assistant.
Entertainment and Media
Digital advertising is a playground for voice assistant adoption. In February 2019, during a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics game, Nike “coordinated the world’s first live sneaker “drop” done exclusively through voice” that was played during halftime. In less than 6 minutes, the shoes were sold out, and over 70% of the people that bought shoes continued to look at other products on nike.com.
Customer Service and Support
One of the most impactful ways voice assistants have helped extend support for retail employees is through personalized shopping experiences all performed in a mobile app. In the UK, H+M Home launched a shopping voice assistant giving personal styling suggestions, mood boards, and recommendations based on conversational style questions in the app experience.
In the multifamily industry, we can level up the future resident experience during a touchless move in day appointment with a voice assistant guide. This automated process is another way to future-proof your leasing experience. Your onsite team can support other operational needs while a voice assistant takes over the move-in process and shows a new resident where the loading area is located, how to access the trash room, where to pick up your mail, and how to complete a move-in inspection form.
Voice Assistants in Business: Impacts and Opportunities
Voice assistants are not just limited to personal use; they also have a significant impact on business operations. Here are a few ways voice assistants are transforming businesses:
Enhanced Customer Experience
Earlier this year, Panera Bread started letting their loyalty membership customers order via Amazon Echo Show devices. Any of their customers using Alexa now have a more convenient, and hands free, way to order by using voice.
Efficient Operations
Reserve with Google uses voice and AI to create appointments and/or reservations to your favorite restaurants, fitness classes, activities, and more. As a result, staff at these locations can increase their efficiency by focusing on more complex customer problems that they need to solve, driving a better customer experience.
Improved Accessibility
Voiceitt is an app that helps people with non-standard speech expand their vocabulary by training Voiceitt with personalized phrases for daily support to help communicate with others.
Data Collection and Analysis
One of the biggest benefits of voice assistants is how they help reduce the cognitive load for users. Neuro-Insights is a neuromarketing and neuroanalytics company helping businesses create voice-assistant marketing. In a study, research showed that most people type 40 words a minute, text 24 words a minute, and speak 150 words a minute. Thus, voice assistants help expedite time-to-value for a user by the use of their voice in product experiences.
How Voice Assistants Drive Product Adoption
Voice assistants drive product adoption and usage by offering several key benefits. They provide simplicity, convenience, and a hands-free user experience by eliminating the need for complex menus and physical input. Users can easily accomplish tasks and access information just by using their voice.
Additionally, voice assistants offer personalization and customization, tailoring recommendations based on user preferences and historical usage patterns. They also integrate seamlessly with a wide range of third-party services and applications, enhancing the overall value proposition for users.
How Voice Assistants Drive User Satisfaction
Efficient Voice Interactions
Voice assistants eliminate the need for multiple clicks and complex menus, allowing users to perform tasks and access information quickly. By simply using voice commands, you can accomplish various tasks without manual input, saving time and streamlining the interaction process for greater user satisfaction.
Continuous Improvements
One of the greatest advantages of voice assistants is their ability to evolve continuously. Being software-driven, they receive regular updates and enhancements. With each update, users benefit from new features and advancements, resulting in an enhanced user experience.
