AI Voice Commerce - New wave of e-commerce shopping experience.

Author: Eryk at Fabrity Commerce

"No one is going to trade a more time-consuming, less transparent, in-store-only experience for a less convenient and less transparent online experience..." McKinsey aptly points out and they're right. E-commerce landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is crucial for success, wouldn't you agree? One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the rise of AI voice commerce. Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant are becoming increasingly popular, and they are changing the way people shop online. In fact, the AI voice commerce market was worth $13.38 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $204.39 billion by 2034!

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This rapid growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of voice assistants, with a recent study finding that 71% of consumers already use voice assistants for online shopping. Imagine a world where customers can simply tell their device what they want, and it appears in their virtual shopping cart - this is the promise of AI voice commerce, and it's a trend that e-commerce professionals cannot afford to ignore.

Voice assistants are rapidly gaining traction in the consumer market. Instead of typing or clicking, users can simply speak their commands, making online shopping faster and more intuitive, this ease of use has driven widespread adoption, with 71% of consumers already using voice assistants for online shopping. This trend is only expected to accelerate, with experts predicting continued growth in the coming years.

How AI Voice Commerce works

AI voice commerce leverages the power of natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI) to understand and respond to voice commands. Think of it like this: NLP is the "ears" of the system, converting spoken words into text, while AI is the "brain," analyzing the text to understand what the user wants.

For example, if a customer says, "Alexa, add a pair of Nike running shoes to my cart," the NLP engine translates this spoken request into written text, then the AI analyzes this text to identify the user's intent – in this case, to add a specific product to their shopping cart. The AI then retrieves the relevant product information and adds it to the cart. This technology also plays a crucial role in product discovery. When a customer asks a voice assistant a question like "What are the best running shoes for women?" the AI can analyze the query, consider the user's past purchases and preferences, and provide personalized recommendations.

However, optimizing for voice search presents unique challenges. Voice search queries tend to be longer and more conversational than text-based searches, this means businesses need to adapt their SEO strategies to ensure their products are discoverable through voice search. This includes optimizing product descriptions and website content with natural language and long-tail keywords that reflect how people speak.

AI Voice Commerce vs. Chatbots: key differences

While both chatbots and AI voice commerce assistants utilize natural language processing (NLP), there are some key differences:

• Conversational Depth: AI voice commerce assistants are designed for more complex and nuanced conversations. They can understand the context of a conversation and provide more personalized responses, chatbots, on the other hand, are often limited to simple, pre-programmed responses.

• Proactive Assistance: AI voice commerce assistants can anticipate user needs and offer proactive assistance. For example, an assistant might suggest related products or offer to add items to a shopping list, chatbots typically only respond to direct queries.

• Personalization: AI voice commerce assistants can learn user habits and preferences to provide more personalized recommendations and support, chatbots often lack this level of personalization.

• Multi-Platform Integration: AI voice commerce assistants can be integrated across various devices and platforms, providing a seamless user experience, chatbots are often limited to a specific platform or application.

Benefits of AI Voice Commerce

AI voice commerce offers a number of benefits for both businesses and consumers:

• Increased Convenience: customers can shop hands-free, making it easier to multitask or shop while on the go.

• Improved Accessibility: Voice commerce makes online shopping more accessible for people with disabilities or those who prefer not to type.

• Enhanced Personalization: AI can analyze customer data and preferences to provide personalized product recommendations and shopping experiences.

• Increased Engagement: Voice interactions can be more engaging and interactive than traditional online shopping, leading to higher conversion rates.

• Reduced Friction: Voice commerce can streamline the checkout process, reducing cart abandonment and increasing sales.

• Building Brand Loyalty: By providing a personalized and convenient shopping experience, voice commerce can foster stronger customer relationships and increase brand loyalty.

Examples of AI Voice Commerce in action

Several companies are already leveraging the power of AI voice commerce:

1. Amazon has been a pioneer in voice commerce with its Alexa voice assistant. Customers can use Alexa to order products, track deliveries, reorder frequently purchased items, and even ask for product recommendations.
2. Walmart has partnered with Google to enable voice shopping through Google Assistant. Customers can add items to their Walmart grocery cart by simply speaking to their device.
3. Nike has launched a voice-activated shopping experience that allows customers to find and purchase products using their voice.

These companies demonstrate the potential of AI voice commerce to create seamless and engaging shopping experiences. However, it's crucial to remember that a frustrating voice experience can deter customers, a seamless experience with accurate voice recognition and relevant responses is essential for success in this space.

Addressing privacy concerns

While AI voice commerce offers numerous benefits, it's important to address the privacy concerns that arise with this technology. Voice assistants collect data about user interactions, and this data can be sensitive, companies must be transparent about their data collection practices and ensure they are complying with relevant privacy regulations. Building trust with customers is crucial for the widespread adoption of voice commerce.

Final Conclusion

AI voice commerce is poised to revolutionize the e-commerce industry. By embracing this technology, businesses can enhance the customer experience, increase engagement, and drive sales. As voice assistants become more sophisticated and integrated into our daily lives, AI voice commerce will become an essential tool for any e-commerce business looking to stay ahead of the competition.

But the future of voice commerce extends beyond simple transactions, we can expect to see even more personalized experiences, with AI anticipating customer needs and offering proactive assistance. Imagine a voice assistant that reminds you to reorder your favorite coffee beans when you're running low, or suggests a new outfit based on your upcoming social calendar.

Furthermore, voice commerce will likely integrate with other emerging technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), to create even more immersive and interactive shopping experiences. Imagine using your voice to navigate a virtual showroom, or try on clothes virtually with the help of your voice assistant.

To prepare for these changes, e-commerce professionals should:

• Invest in voice search optimization - ensure your product descriptions and website content are optimized for voice search. (e.g. Pimcore )
• Prioritize a seamless voice experience - focus on accurate voice recognition and provide clear, concise responses to voice commands.
• Address privacy concerns - be transparent about data collection practices and prioritize customer privacy.
• Explore new possibilities - experiment with integrating voice commerce with other technologies to create innovative shopping experiences.

By embracing the voice revolution and staying ahead of the curve, e-commerce businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and success in the years to come.

"AI voice commerce is a true revolution in e-commerce. It is an opportunity to create exceptional shopping experiences that will delight customers and increase sales" - says Grzegorz Sperczyński from Fabrity Commerce . Just think how you can use this technology to improve customer service on your e-commerce platform. What steps can you take today to prepare for the advent of the voice era? The future of e-commerce is taking shape before our eyes, and those who dare to shape it will succeed.

If you want to read more feel free to visit our:

AI Voice Commerce - Fabrity Commerce

Blog - Fabrity Commerce

Case Studies - Fabrity Commerce

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Eryk Stefanowicz

E-commerce Growth Manager

source of quotes:

1. Retail | McKinsey quote of the day

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/quote-of-the-day/tag/retail

2. Ai Voice Generator market size, Share & Trends, 2034

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ai-voice-generator-market-28669