“Hi VA (Voice Assistant), find the best Gym Bag under $50”
Jim, tying his laces for a morning jog, smiling at his smart assistant, and realising how effectively it works!
“Would you like to buy the top-rated one from ABC?” VA asked.
“Yes, order that please,” Jim replied.
Jim’s morning routine had never been smoother before he was introduced to this voice-search solution. This everyday convenience reveals how voice search is changing the way we shop, showcasing its growing importance in e-commerce. The rise of voice search in e-commerce is no longer an unrealistic dream; it now provides consumers with ease and efficiency.
Voice based commerce allows users to make purchases quickly and effortlessly using simple voice commands. In this blog, we dive deep into the latest voice search trends and predictions for 2024 in e-commerce. It will give businesses insight into how voice based commerce dominates customer buying experiences today.
Talking Tech: Voice Search Unplugged
As technological advancements are reshaping consumer interactions, voice search is gaining traction, particularly for e-commerce businesses. With its increasing popularity, understanding voice search’s operation and its multilingual applications becomes essential for staying competitive.
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is a technology that allows users to perform searches on the internet or within a particular application using voice commands instead of typing. It relies on natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to understand and interpret the user’s spoken words. This results in converting them into text that the search engine or application can process.
Voice search technology enhances user experience by providing a faster, hands-free alternative to traditional text-based searches. It is widely useful in situations where typing is impractical.
A Closer Look at How Voice Search Works
One of the most compelling aspects of voice search technology is its ability to understand and process multiple languages, catering to a diverse user base. In a linguistically diverse country like India, voice search has made significant strides with Reverie’s voice solution that supports several Indian languages. Users can simply speak in their native language to perform voice based search, set reminders, or interact with various apps and services.
Consider an example
“बेंगलुरु में सबसे अच्छे लैपटॉप दिखाओ” (Show me the best laptops in Bengaluru) or “मुझे कल सुबह 10 बजे समागम की याद दिलाएं” (Remind me about the meeting tomorrow at 10 AM). Reverie’s voice assistant interprets these commands accurately, demonstrating the effectiveness of NLP algorithms tailored for regional languages.
E-commerce businesses can leverage this multilingual capability to reach a broader audience and make their services more inclusive and user-friendly. By optimising the online presence for voice search in multiple languages, companies can enhance accessibility and engagement.
From Clicks to Commands: Trends Shaping Voice Search in E-commerce
Voice Search In E-commerce
The shift from traditional clicks to voice based search in e-commerce is transforming how businesses interact with their customers. Here is a detailed look at some of the voice search trends that are shaping e-commerce, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and changing consumer behaviours.
The Rise of Voice Search Technology
Voice search has evolved from simple voice recognition systems to sophisticated technology capable of understanding and processing natural language. Early iterations like Bell Laboratories’ “Audrey” in 1952 could only recognise digits spoken by a single voice.
Today, voice assistants can handle complex queries, all credit to advancements in NLP and machine learning. NLP and ML enable voice assistants to understand context, intent, and user behaviour more accurately, making voice search a practical tool for e-commerce.
Increasing Adoption and Usage
Voice search is gaining traction across various demographics. Stats reveal that 71% of consumers prefer using voice search over typing. Millennials are the primary users, but adoption is growing among all age groups.
In 2024, the use of voice assistants is expected to reach 8.4 billion devices globally. This widespread adoption is driven by convenience, the addition of smart devices, and the integration of voice technology into everyday tasks.
Voice Commerce Growth
Voice commerce, or v-commerce, is on a rapid growth trajectory. In 2021, e-commerce transaction via voice assistants was a burgeoning market at $4.6 billion. By 2023, it surged to $19.4 billion, with projections indicating continued growth. This trend is fueled by the increasing sophistication of voice assistants and the convenience they offer.
Consumers use voice commands to search for products, make purchases, and reorder items, making the shopping process seamless and efficient.“How Does Voice Search Work for Ecommerce Stores?”
Voice Search and Online Shopping
Thanks to smartphones and affordable mobile data, the internet is now accessible to millions of Indians residing in tier-2, tier-3 cities. As a matter of fact a sizable population residing in tier-1 cities are also not comfortable navigating apps and finding the right products when shopping online. But, by integrating voice based commerce with native language support they have made shopping online as easy as conversing with a neighbour or a friend.
SEO and Content Optimization
To capitalise on the voice search trend, e-commerce businesses must optimise their online presence with:
- Natural Language and Long-tail Keywords- Use conversational language and long-tail keywords in product descriptions to align with how users naturally speak. Voice search queries are typically longer and more conversational than text-based searches, making it essential to integrate these elements into SEO strategies.
- Local SEO- Optimize for local searches, as many voice queries are location-based. Ensuring your business is listed on local directories and has an updated Google business profile can significantly enhance visibility in voice search results.
- Speed and Mobile Optimization- Ensure your website loads quickly and is mobile-friendly. Voice search users often seek quick answers, and a fast, responsive site can improve user experience and search rankings.
What’s Ahead for Voice Search in E-commerce: Predictions for 2024 and Beyond
The future of voice search in e-commerce looks promising, with significant growth expected in the coming years. As voice search technology continues to grow, businesses need to stay ahead of the curve and meet evolving consumer expectations.
Given below is a round-up of what 2024 will be like for voice search in e-commerce and the advancements anticipated.
Voice Commerce Market Expansion
Voice commerce is expected to witness substantial growth, with the market projected to increase significantly. One of the market research states that the voice commerce market is set to grow by $55.68 billion from 2021 to 2026, with a CAGR of 24.34%.
This growth indicates that more consumers will adopt voice-activated shopping, driven by convenience and technological advancements.
Enhanced AI and Natural Language Processing
The continuous improvement in AI and NLP technologies will make voice search more accurate and user-friendly. AI-driven recommendations and personalised interactions will become more sophisticated, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
Retailers will be able to provide customised suggestions based on previous purchases and browsing history, making voice search a more powerful tool for e-commerce.
Integration with Smart Home Devices
As smart home devices become more prevalent, their integration with e-commerce platforms will expand. Consumers will increasingly use voice-activated assistants to make purchases, reorder items, and track deliveries.
This integration will create a seamless shopping experience, where consumers can interact with their favourite brands and stores without picking up a device.
Increased Adoption of Voice-Enabled Payments
Voice-enabled payment options will gain traction, offering a hands-free and efficient way to complete transactions. Security features such as voice biometrics will be enhanced to ensure safe and secure payments.
Retailers will need to optimise their checkout processes to accommodate voice commands, reducing friction and improving the overall user experience.
Multi-Language and Localization Support
Solutions like Reverie’s voice search technology offer improved multi-language support and localisation to serve India’s diverse linguistic audience. It can recognise and accurately process commands in various languages and dialects, making e-commerce more accessible to non-English speaking consumers. Localisation efforts will also adjust search results based on regional preferences and cultural nuances.
Conclusion
Looking ahead, voice search is poised to become a dominant force in e-commerce. The integration of voice technology with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) could create immersive shopping experiences, further blurring the lines between physical and digital commerce.
As AI and voice assistants become more advanced, businesses that embrace and innovate with voice search technology will likely lead the future of e-commerce. This can result in offering seamless, personalised, and efficient shopping experiences to customers.
Ready to future-proof your e-commerce strategy? Schedule a free demo with Reverie and see how our advanced voice search technology can revolutionise your business interactions.
Faqs
Why is voice search becoming popular in e-commerce?
Voice search elevates customer experience. Finding products is a lot easier and faster with voice search. Research reveals that a large number of customers prefer browsing products and shopping using voice commands.
How does voice search technology work in online shopping?
NLP, voice recognition software, speech-to-text APIs and more convert spoken words into text and then display relevant results to the user.
What are the benefits of using voice search for e-commerce businesses?
Better customer experience, better brand outreach, ability to deliver a more personalised experience ensuring customer stickiness with the brand.
How can e-commerce businesses optimize for voice search?
The first step is to optimise the store for both desktop and mobile devices. The second is to intersperse long tail and conversational keywords as people use everyday conversation words to search for products and services.
How important is local SEO for voice search in e-commerce?
Many people shopping online may not be very familiar with terminologies or some peculiar words native to your home country. When launching your webstore in a new geography it is important to do local SEO for voice search by including keywords being searched in those places. Failure to do so will result in your store not being discovered by someone who shops using voice search in using their native terms.
