When voice tech started to emerge in 2011 with the launch of Siri, no one could have forecasted that this tech would become a driver for technological innovation. Today, a decade later, it's projected that every 1 in 4 U.S. adults owns a smart speaker and eMarketer predicts that almost 92.3% of mobile phone users will be using voice assistants by 2023.
Brands like Google and Amazon are constantly fueling this trend as they compete for market share. Voice assistants are advancing exponentially in all sectors with remarkable growth in the medical industry to banking, as businesses are competing to launch their voice tech integrations to keep pace with user demand.
7 Key Forecasts For Voice Assistants in 2021
1. Mobile App Integration
Integrating voice-tech into mobile apps has become trending right now and will remain because the voice is a NUI (Natural User Interface). Voice-enabled apps boost functionality and save users from complex app navigation. Voice-activated apps simplify the user to navigate an app despite not knowing the name of the items they are looking for or where to search it in the app's menu.
2. Voice Technology In Medical Field
In 2020, AI-based chatbots & virtual assistants played a significant role in the battle against COVID-19. Apple Siri now helps users through Covid-19 assessment questions and then suggests telehealth apps. Voice assistant app development and conversational AI have made health services more available to all who cannot leave their home during Covid-19 restrictions. Be ready to see more funding in voice technology integration in the medical field in the upcoming years.
3. Search Patterns Will Change
Voice search has been a trending topic. Visibility of voice will indeed be a challenge. This is due to the visual interface with voice assistants. Users can't touch or see a voice interface unless it's connected to the Google Assistant or Alexa app. Search patterns will see a considerable change. The voice-enabled ad revenue could reach USD 19 billion by 2022, as Juniper Research tech research firm claimed.
Brands today are experiencing a move in which interactions are transforming to hearing points, and organic search will be the primary way through which brands have visibility. A voice search expands in popularity, ad agencies and marketers expect Amazon & Google to open their platforms to extra forms of paid messages.
4. Individualized Experiences
Voice assistants will resume providing more individualized experiences as they become better at distinguishing between voices. Google Home can support up to 6 user accounts & detect unique voices allowing Google Home users to tailor several features. Users can ask, "tell me about my day?" or "What's my schedule today?" and the assistant will dictate travel times, news information, and weather for individual users. It even includes features like work locations, payment details, nicknames, and linked accounts like Spotify, Netflix, and Google Play.
5. Voice Cloning
Machine learning technology and GPU power development incorporate custom voice formation, making the speech more emotional. This makes the computer-generated voice indistinguishable from the actual one. You can use a recorded speech, and later a voice conversion tech converts your voice into another. Voice cloning becomes an essential tool for marketers, game developers, filmmakers, and other content creators.
6. Smart Displays
In the previous year, smart displays were on the rise as they grew voice tech's functionality. Today, the demand for these devices is even higher, with consumers exhibiting smart displays over usual smart speakers. In 2020's 3rd quarter, smart displays' sales grew year-over-year by 21% to 9.5 million units, while basic smart speakers fell by 3%. In 2021, we anticipate a lot of innovation in the smart display world to integrate more cutting-edge tech and more customization. For instance, smart displays such as the Chinese smart screen Xiaodu or the Russian Sber portal are already equipped with upgraded AI-based functions, including far-field voice integration, hand gesture control, facial recognition, and eye gesture detection.
7. Voice In The Gaming Sector
It takes ample time and effort to record a voice for spoken dialogues within the game for each character. In the upcoming year, developers can use rich neural networks to imitate human voices. Looking forward, neural networks can create suitable NPC responses. Some game design studios & developers are striving to make and infuse this dialogue block into their tools.
Why Embrace A Mobile Voice Strategy?
Smartphones are already customized more than any other website. Moreover, there is very less screen space on the phone, making it hard for users to find or navigate. With bigger product directories & more info, voice apps enable users to use natural language to reduce or eliminate manual effort, accelerating to complete tasks.
Rogers has launched voice commands to their remotes enabling users to quickly surf and search their favorite shows or recent movies with specific keywords, for instance, an actor's name. Brands require focusing on enhanced mobile experiences for their users & voice in the way to do so. Users are looking for faster and more productive ways to accomplish tasks, and voice is becoming the ideal platform for this.
Voice is the new mobile experience, whether that's finding out info, making a purchase, or accomplishing a task. With voice and speech recognition, the market is projected to grow at a 17.2% CAGR to reach USD 26.8 billion by 2025.
Voice Is The Future Of Brand Engagement & User Experience
Technology advancements in several sectors are helping digital voice assistants become more enriched and handy for daily use. Voice has now built itself the ultimate mobile experience. A shortage of skills & knowledge makes it specifically challenging for businesses to embrace a voice strategy. There's plenty of opportunity for much intense and conversational user experiences.
