Voice search has been around since 1961. IBM introduced it with IBM shoebox, the first voice search device. This was a 16-word and digit speech recognition tool. Although innovative, not many people were into its usage.
In the past few years, the trend has changed and many people have embraced it. Today, 40% of adults use voice search at least once every day, and nearly 50% of people overall use it to research products.
Why Voice Search Enabled Devices?
Several factors have contributed to the current rise in voice search usage. Probably the major factor is that it’s faster and easier to use. A voice-enabled smart speaker gives back results more easily than searching on a website or app.
Another reason is that some people find it more convenient to use it as there is no typing involved. Voice search offers people the opportunity to multitask as they can drive (52.8%), cook (5.5%), work (7.4%), watch TV (7.5%), or even exercise (2.6%).
The personalized experience for its users is another crucial factor. Precisely, 41% of people who own voice-enabled smart speakers appreciate the fact that it feels like they are talking to a friend or a fellow human.
Although all those above-mentioned advantages of voice search, we wouldn’t have seen such a growth without the improvements in technology made by companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon.
Apple’s Siri started the hype. Google and Amazon followed with their own popular smart speakers – Google Home and Amazon Echo, respectively. 65% of the Amazon Echo and Google Homeowners are unable to envision a life without their smart speakers. This is a clear sign of indisputable importance in everyday’s life.
Moreover, it’s estimated that the voice recognition market will become a $601 million industry by 2019 and by 2022 SEO Tribunal’s infographic predicts that voice commerce sales will reach $40 billion. With the introduction of Google Duplex, which can make bookings on your behalf, the future for voice search is still bright.
Considering the fact that voice search has been around for 57 years and is still growing, it is probably here to stay.
