Voice messaging and audio are becoming key features for messaging applications, but what does the future hold for them?
Over the past year, we have been bombarded with visual communications. Switching between laptops, phones, and TV screens has become a big part of many people’s daily lives during a year of ongoing lockdowns. While technology is everywhere, the focus is still on screen time, which isn’t completely smooth yet. However, it seems this is shifting, thanks to a significant rise in audio – and businesses should pay attention.
In a hybrid work environment, the balance of screen time is changing. Once the main way to communicate for work, many people have now switched from phone calls to video chats and emails. However, in our personal lives, talking is slowly becoming the top method of communication—whether it’s leaving voice messages on WhatsApp, turning content into podcasts, or using devices like ‘Alexa’.
Take, for example, the growth of Clubhouse, an audio-based social media platform with invite-only users. It is another platform that brands and leaders are adapting to cater to audience trends. Its ten million users show interest in the audio-only platform and opened the way for other similar innovations from tech players: Facebook Live Audio, Twitter Spaces, and an upcoming Spotify feature for live audio conversations, to grow its podcasting catalog
According to a PWC survey, delving into the world of voice-led eCommerce is the way forward. The survey found that 50% of respondents have made a purchase using their voice assistant, and an additional 25% would consider doing so in the future. They see voice assistants as a smarter, faster and easier way to perform everyday activities.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Many of us now default to asking Alexa, Nest or Siri for help – rather than looking at our phones. It is estimated that by 2020 there were 4.2 billion digital voice assistants being used in devices around the world. Meanwhile, by 2024 the number of digital voice assistants is set to reach 8.4 billion units – a number higher than the world’s population.
Facebook is also investing in its own speech recognition engine that combines 51 languages in one model – a feat as most automatic speech recognition (ASR) models work with a single language per model, requiring multiple models for multiple languages. As the tech giant continues to collect voice data to train for voice recognition, it is rumored that a Facebook voice assistant is on the way. These types of developments are having a major impact on consumer behavior and expectations.
In short, people want to speak, listen and be heard. Any business that doesn’t want to play catch-up in a year’s time, needs to think very carefully about their customer experience strategy early on in 2021. In many cases, a new pillar for voice communication needs to be implemented. There are ways businesses can seize the voice opportunity, from launching podcasts, or converting written content to audio for on-the-go consumption and optimizing marketing strategies for voice searches.
But to get closer to customers it’s time to start innovating with new digital channels that combine the best of messaging and media capabilities. This adds a whole new layer of functionality to devices – enabling customers to browse while moving through the home, check the weather on the go and change the music without getting up. But what can it do for your business?
Tapping into the audio trend and providing customers with their preferred mode of customer experience is priceless.
Communication habits are quickly developing as phone calls move over to give space to digital channels. Young generations, in particular, are embracing online conversations and now that digital space is embracing audio.
- Photo Credit: Twenty20
The future of communication is not just about the contest between voice versus digital but rather concerning the combination of the two. Voice and phone used to be limiting in customer service: you had to wait, to repeat information. Even though the phone remains a frequently used form of contacting support teams.
Now, voice is coming in several forms, combined with digital. It allows voice to be used for the most significant parts (situations requiring empathy through tone of voice, assistance for urgent issues, real-time technical assistance…). On messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, users are increasingly using voice messages. The appeal of voice messaging is largely attributed to its convenient and personal nature. Its asynchronous form also makes it more instant to communicate instead of an email, without having to spend too much time formatting text for the tone of voice.
Another way is through call deflection, allowing to alternate between digital and phone during a single conversation, so customers only talk to agents when it’s really adding value.
The opportunity for business innovation is endless as we teeter on the edge of a voice revolution. It’s time for businesses to start thinking outside the box and consider how voice technologies can add value to their operations. From marketing strategies to customer service and administration it’s time to get talking – and listen up.