In our high-speed, multi-tasking culture, fundamental shifts are happening in the way we interact with search technology. Today, mobile devices are the source of 60% of all online searchers. As voice-to-text technology has improved on smartphones and other devices, so has adoption of voice-based commands.
In their research recap “Prepare for the Voice Revolution” PWC reports the majority of survey respondents said searching online with voice assistants—like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa—is easier, more convenient, and faster than speaking to a human or texting on a phone.
Although younger mobile-first consumers are driving adoption, PWC states, they aren’t using the tech as frequently as their 55+ counterparts. Older folks who enjoy the ease of accessibility are more likely to use voice to search for information, products and services. Overall, 71% of all survey takers preferred using voice commands rather than typing into a search box.
Monthly
57%
Never
11%
Monthly
59%
Never
12%
35%
Monthly
50%
Never
15%
Monthly
49%
Never
18%
Monthly
58%
Never
19%
Monthly
43%
Never
26%
19%
Monthly
54%
Never
27%
13%
Monthly
45%
Never
42%
Monthly
40%
Never
50%
Monthly
28%
Never
56%
Of course, 40% of searches still come from desktop/laptop browsers. Nothing the trend, e-commerce companies are adding voice search capacity to their website’s search bar. Unfortunately, the customer experience for voice search on a desktop or laptop poses unique challenges compared to voice search performed on mobile devices.
Unlike smartphones that have microphones and speech-to-text translation built in, certain web browsers don’t support converting voice commands into something that the browser can use. Without that translation, voice search won’t return results.
To create a consistent and trustworthy experience on our customers’ websites, we make sure every consumer coming from any browser can easily perform a voice-based search. To make it work, we leverage artificial intelligence built into our enterprise search tools to convert speech to text first, and then use the converted text for search. It all happens behind the scenes so consumers enjoy the same easy search experience they’re used to having on mobile devices.
By all measures, voice search is moving from novelty to the norm. Demand will only continue to grow as consumers of all ages and abilities embrace the convenience. Get ahead of the demand and create a more user-centered interface with this simple upgrade to your site’s search capabilities. Is your company ready for “the voice revolution”?
