Voice Search

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What is Voice Search

Voice search, also known as voice-activated search, allows people to retrieve information by speaking instead of typing text into a search box. The trend to simplify and streamline the search process to improve the user experience has driven the development of voice search technology. This popular user interface can save time and reduce effort by replacing keyboard input.

An emerging technology

Voice will always be mankind's best means of communication, and for that reason alone, voice search is a compelling option. Here are a few statistics that illustrate the growing importance of voice technology search and voice-controlled devices:

The market for smart speakers (standalone devices that respond to verbal commands with computer-generated voices) is expected to exceed $30 billion by 2024.

Thirty-four percent of people who do not own a voice assistant are interested in purchasing one.

A Gartner study predicts that by 2020, 30 % of all browsing sessions will involve voice search

The analysts at Juniper Research forecast that the E-commerce with voice search will grow to more than $80 billion per year by 2023.

With the rise of pandemic online shopping and the huge influx of new products into online marketplaces, experts predict even greater demand for voice-driven user experiences.

Benefits of voice search for users and e-commerce shoppers

Voice search saves time by eliminating the need to go to a search engine website and type a question into a search box. From reviews of local restaurants to the latest sports scores, voice search makes accessing information spontaneous, convenient and easy. And when search engines use advanced natural language understanding to generate the answers you want, this technology can become a trusted "advisor."

The voice search in the E-commerce simplifies searching for products and exploring purchase options. Voice-activated shopping is significantly faster than typing text into an online search box and offers new opportunities for personalized, accessible searches and upsells.

For example, imagine you're shopping online and just before you complete your order, a voice-activated shopping assistant tells you about an enticing addition to your order for a dollar more. Chances are, you'll take notice and add the item to your purchase.

  • Search engine queries
  • Query specific information, e.g. stock market prices or sports results
  • Launching programs and applications
  • Selecting search options
  • Search for content in audio or video files
  • Hands-free dialing via voice input
  • Voice search accuracy requires the effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. AI makes the voice function intelligent enough to capture shopping behavior and habits.

AI-based Natural Language Understanding (NLU) makes it easy for users to always find what they are looking for, even if they don't know exactly what they need. Instead of typing in a search term that results in "no results found," a user can simply ask a question in plain language, such as "highly rated romantic comedies from the 1990s."

By using AI and NLU to identify important details and the speaker's intent, Algolia breaks down the important segments of a verbal request and infers exactly what the user wants. From an eCommerce perspective, this leads customers to the products they want faster, resulting in more conversions and higher sales.

In addition, by analyzing previous purchases, a voice assistant can remind online shoppers of products they have already bought and may want to buy again. This kind of unsolicited advice is not only convenient for shoppers, but can also boost business for marketers and brands.

Voice search is the new cell phone

More than a decade ago, the mobile and smartphone revolution took the world by storm, catching many developers and marketers off guard. Now, voice search is causing the same upheaval, enabled by several popular iOS and Android apps and devices. Here are a few products and services that have practically become household names:

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FAQ

What is voice search? arrow icon in accordion
Voice search is a type of search technology that allows users to search for information using natural language. It recognizes queries in a more unique way than traditional keyword-based search. Instead of breaking down the query into individual keywords, voice search interprets entire sentences or questions and attempts to discern the intended meaning.
How does voice search work? arrow icon in accordion
Voice search works by breaking down queries from users into individual words and comparing those words to find potential relevant results. The technology also attempts to interpret the meaning of the query to provide results with higher relevance.
What are the different types of voice search? arrow icon in accordion
There are several types of language search technologies, including syntactic parsing, semantic interpretation, and machine learning. Syntactic parsing breaks down a query into component parts, while semantic interpretation attempts to determine the intent of the query. Machine learning is a combination of syntactic parsing and semantic interpretation that understands the query more with each use.
Why is voice search useful? arrow icon in accordion
Voice search is useful because it allows users to search for information using natural language, rather than just individual keywords. It can also help expand the use cases for a website or application and provide users with an easier way to retrieve information.
Where can you use voice search? arrow icon in accordion
Voice search can be used in many different situations, including searching for information, retrieving information from a website, comparing products, and more. It can also be used to create intelligent, dialog-based applications such as voice assistants.
How is voice search different from traditional keyword-based search? arrow icon in accordion
Unlike a traditional keyword-based search, voice search interprets entire sentences or questions and attempts to discern the intended meaning. It can also understand more complex queries, such as questions that contain multiple parts, and attempts to interpret those parts.
What skills do developers need to implement voice search? arrow icon in accordion
Developers implementing voice search must have a basic knowledge of algorithms, data structures, machine learning, and natural language. They also need to know how to implement a speech search API and how to interpret queries and return results.
What are the advantages of voice search? arrow icon in accordion
Voice search offers many benefits, including an easier user experience, the ability to understand more complex queries, and the ability to respond to queries more relevantly and accurately.
What are the disadvantages of voice search? arrow icon in accordion
One disadvantage of voice search is that it is more difficult to implement than a traditional keyword-based search. It also requires a thorough understanding of Natural Language and the algorithms it uses to understand queries.
Are there other search technologies? arrow icon in accordion
Yes, there are other search technologies such as semantic search, which tries to identify the meaning of a query, and visual search, which searches images and videos.

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