Over the previous few decades, technology’s rapid progress, which once resembled science fiction, has dramatically transformed marketing and sales through digitization.
Significant improvements in AI technology, notably during the last decade, gave rise to eCommerce, which revolutionized online buying. AI’s impact extends to payments, security, logistics, inventory control, and fulfillment, influencing the eCommerce brand.
Voice commerce, a product of AI, enhances the online shopping experience. Customers may shop easily using voice queries, including product searches, pricing comparisons, and transactions.

Let’s look at how voice commerce has transformed eCommerce, providing customers with an effortless, convenient, and quick shopping experience.

How Does Voice Commerce Work?

Voice commerce, also known as voice-based e-commerce, lowers the need for hardware by allowing customers to search for and buy things online using voice queries. It is a rapidly evolving technology used by businesses to improve the online buying experience. Voice commerce has greatly enhanced customer comfort by utilizing natural language processing, automatic speech recognition (ASR), and machine learning.

With 65% of people aged 25 to 49 using voice-enabled digital assistants on a regular basis, this technology is altering online purchasing and is expected to become a fundamental part of e-commerce in the near future.

Voice commerce is designed for simplicity and user-friendliness, offering consumers seamless shopping experiences and providing e-commerce companies with a competitive edge. Enabled by Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU), consumers can effortlessly navigate and make purchases using only their voices.Voice assistants, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), go beyond deciphering requests; they delve into customer preferences and past purchases, enabling personalized recommendations.

This technological integration enhances the overall shopping journey, making voice commerce a powerful tool for businesses aiming to stand out in the marketplace.

Virtual assistants swiftly convert spoken words into text, conduct searches, and offer personalized recommendations. To enable this functionality, certain steps and conditions must be met:

1. Consumers need a voice assistant-enabled device, like a smartphone or speech-activated gadget (e.g., Amazon Echo or Google Home).
2. Activate the device by voicing a command, such as “Hello Siri.”
3. Utilize verbs or actions to prompt the device (e.g., “Siri, order…” or “search for…”).
4. Maintain awareness of tones and inflections, as smart devices may block orders from what it perceives as an “unknown” voice after recognizing the user’s distinct voice.

As an emerging and promising technology, voice commerce is expected to grow and advance significantly in the next years, in line with the ongoing development of eCommerce technology.

Here are some of the most recent striking data.

• Projected Transaction Surge: The global transaction value of e-commerce purchases through voice assistants is anticipated to soar from 19.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2023 to new heights in 2024.
• Widespread Voice Search Usage: Approximately 30% of the world’s population is expected to engage in voice searches, showcasing the widespread adoption of this technology.
• Device Proliferation: With an estimated increase, the number of devices equipped with voice search capabilities is projected to reach over 9 billion in 2024.
• Local Business Information Preferences: More than 60% of consumers are likely to prefer using voice search to discover local business information, emphasizing its convenience.
• Demographic Voice Search Trends: Daily voice searches are anticipated to remain popular, with 60% of consumers aged 25 to 34 incorporating this technology into their daily routines.
• Specialized Queries: Voice searches related to weather conditions are forecasted to account for 20% of overall queries, highlighting the diverse applications of voice commerce.
• Global Linguistic Dominance: English is expected to maintain its dominance, constituting 92% of voice searches globally.
• Product Consumption Preferences: In 2024, 54% of voice searches concerning product consumption are anticipated to focus on restaurants, showcasing continued interest in culinary experiences through voice commerce.

Pros and Cons of Voice Commerce

In recent years, voice commerce has grown in popularity, especially among younger and more tech-savvy consumers. After all, the convenience of buying without having to type or browse shopping websites has been a major driver of this trend. Furthermore, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the convenience of making purchases without touching any device fueled the popularity of Voice Commerce, as did the rising use of voice assistant devices such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s Siri.

Read Also: Voice Commerce and Social Media: How to Integrate Them

Voice Commerce offers businesses the ability to grow revenue and improve the customer experience. Companies that offer virtual assistants to their consumers can boost customer contact, make personalized recommendations, stimulate repeat purchases, and ultimately provide a 24/7 support channel.

Pros

Voice Commerce offers a number of significant advantages for users and companies using this technology. Some of the main advantages include:

1. Convenience: Voice Commerce allows users to easily and quickly make purchases without having to use their hands or browse shopping websites. Users can simply speak to the virtual assistant and perform transactions with few voice commands.
2. Increased Efficiency: Virtual voice assistant technology allows businesses to automate the purchasing process and reduce the time and effort required to complete a transaction. In short, it can help companies increase operational efficiency and reduce costs.
3. Personalization: Virtual voice assistants can provide personalized recommendations based on user preferences and past purchase history. Therefore, it can improve the customer experience and increase the likelihood of repeat purchases.
4. 24/7 Availability: Virtual assistants are available 24/7, allowing users to shop at any time of the day or night. Thus, it can help companies to increase their sales and improve customer satisfaction.
5. Access to additional information: Virtual voice assistants can provide additional information about a product such as price, description, reviews and availability. In this way, it can help users make more informed decisions when shopping.
6. Reduced physical contact: During the Covid-19 pandemic, Voice Commerce has become an even more attractive option for many consumers as it allows people to make purchases without touching physical devices or interacting with others in person.

Cons

Although Voice Commerce offers numerous benefits, some problems must be overcome in order to ensure that users have a satisfying purchase experience. Some of these challenges are:

1. User Experience: The voice shopping process is still new and may be less intuitive than the traditional online shopping process. It is important that virtual assistants are designed in a way that provides an easy and pleasant experience for the user.
2. Security: When it comes to shopping online, security is an important concern. As it is necessary to ensure that user data is adequately protected during the voice purchase process.
3. Search difficulty: Searching for products and comparing prices can be more difficult using a voice assistant than using a computer or smartphone screen. Therefore, it is important for companies to offer personalized recommendations and simplified purchase options to help users find the products they want.
4. Comprehension issues: Virtual assistants can still struggle to understand user requests, especially when it comes to more complex commands or requests for specific products. Therefore, it is important for companies to provide adequate training for their virtual assistants and be ready to correct comprehension problems when they occur.
5. Limited Adoption: While the use of virtual assistants is on the rise, not all users are familiar or comfortable with using this technology. Therefore, companies need to be aware that Voice Commerce adoption may be limited in some industries or demographics.
6. Agility: The voice shopping process can be slower than the traditional one, especially when it comes to searching and comparing prices.

How to Optimize Your Ecommerce Store for Voice Search

Before jumping on the voice commerce bandwagon, investigate the legislation associated to it. Several regulations govern accessibility in eCommerce, and businesses have a legal obligation to ensure their online platforms comply with these laws:

• In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) stipulates certain accommodations and practices to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities. While the ADA doesn’t mention voice commerce specifically, its requirement for accessible digital services can be interpreted to include this form of eCommerce.
• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act mandates federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities — a standard that private businesses often adopt as well.
• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe has implications for voice commerce, particularly around the storage and use of voice data, requiring businesses to take necessary precautions to protect user data.

From an ethical standpoint, businesses have a moral obligation to make their services available to everyone, regardless of ability level. Inclusivity should be a basic element of your business processes, and using voice commerce ensures that you meet the different needs of your clients.

As organizations see the value of voice commerce, the question is how to adapt to it. Here are some practical actions you can do to optimize your eCommerce store’s voice search:

• Incorporate text-to-speech software: This technology converts written text on your website into spoken words, allowing users to listen to product descriptions and other vital information instead of reading it. This is particularly beneficial for users with visual impairments or literacy challenges.
• Develop a voice-friendly website layout and structure: Design your website to accommodate voice search users for easy navigation. This means organizing content logically and clearly, employing heading tags effectively, and ensuring all interactive elements are voice command compatible.
• Make your eCommerce site keyboard-friendly: Keyboard accessibility is essential for many users, including those who rely on keyboard-only navigation or voice recognition software. Ensure your site fully functions using only a keyboard, with clear visual focus indicators so users can see where they are on the page.
• Provide clear and simple instructions for voice search users: Not all users will be familiar with voice search, so give clear, easy-to-follow instructions to assist these individuals and enhance their shopping experience. This could include a guide on how to use voice search on your site or verbal prompts for voice commands.

Optimizing your eCommerce store for voice search necessitates a strategic approach to website design and functionality. It entails implementing new technology, redesigning your website, and giving all users with the assistance they require to utilize voice search efficiently. The final result is an inclusive, user-friendly platform that fulfills the demands of a wide spectrum of customers, encouraging them to continue shopping with you.

How To Use Voice Commerce In Your Online Store?

Voice commerce can increase your sales significantly! To accomplish this, consider implementing the following strategies:

• Understand the distinction between written and voice searches:

A voice search differs significantly from a typed search. Voice searches tend to be more conversational, often resembling natural questions one might ask in daily conversation. In contrast, typed searches are typically concise, using three or four words.

When optimizing for voice search, it’s essential to factor in the user’s device and the nature of their search topic. Voice searches commonly focus on local queries, while more complex or serious subjects, such as healthcare, are often pursued through typed searches. Understanding these nuances is crucial for effective search optimization strategies.

• Use a semantic strategy instead of a keyword search:

The core objective of semantic SEO is to prioritize topics likely to be featured in voice searches over traditional keywords. This involves analyzing potential user intent, envisaging likely voice search scenarios, and understanding phrase relationships. The underlying assumption is that consumers express their searches verbally in a distinct manner compared to typing them out.

• Use your consumers’ natural and daily language:

At this point, you should recognize the potential distinctions between a voice and typed search. Your voice search strategy needs to be attuned to this. It’s crucial to acknowledge that products may have various names based on the location in a large market.

For instance, selling shoes online might encounter variations, where a specific style is termed a “sneaker” in some countries and “tennis shoes” in others. This underscores the importance of a deep understanding of your consumers. When targeting a national audience, incorporating both phrases is essential to effectively reach clients.

• Have good keyword research for voice searches:

Similar to traditional searches, it’s essential to select key terms and phrases for voice searches. Ensure to incorporate inquiry terms such as “who,” “where,” and others. Additionally, include conversational “fillers” like “on the,” “of the,” “to,” as voice searches tend to be more informal. Conduct thorough research on industry-related terms. Lastly, consider the significance of long-tailed keywords in optimizing your voice search strategy.

• Let your website be super fast & responsive:

Whether users are engaging in traditional or voice searches, the speed of your webpage is paramount. Swift access to information is an expectation, and a slow website may drive users to seek alternatives. Furthermore, this can impact your website’s search engine ranking.

To match user expectations and keep a high ranking in search results, make sure your website is responsive and optimized for quick responses.

Voice commerce represents the next phase in the growth of internet shopping. Its convenience and inclusivity appeal to both consumers and enterprises. By making long-term plans that foresee its future influence and including its current iterations in the form of voice search, you can ensure that you are prepared to meet your clients’ shifting requirements and expectations. As voice commerce becomes a more regular component of the eCommerce experience, those who embrace it will prosper in the digital marketplace.