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April 8, 2019 • Issue 19:04:01

Voice: payments' next integration

Tomorrow's digital assistants
In a February 2019 white paper titled The Digital Assistants
of Tomorrow, Juniper Research predicts the installed base of
voice-enabled digital solutions will reach nearly 8 billion
by 2023. Additional data from OC&C Strategy Consultants
estimates voice shopping revenues will increase from $2
billion today to $40 billion in 2022.

Interactive voice solutions will continue to evolve, becoming
deeper, wider and more various, researchers noted, citing
four key distribution channels:

1. Platforms: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, SoundHound
and other platforms provide hosting services and
neurolinguistics programming for voice assistants.
2. Software integrators: Google, Orbita, Salesforce,
By Dale S. Laszig SoundHound and other software integrators provide
software developers with APIs to simplify voice
hroughout the payments journey, sound has program integration and enhancement.
played a key role, from synchronizing dial
modems to interactive voice response (IVR) 3. App developers: Microsoft, Nuance, Papa John,
T systems. Mastercard added sound to its logo SoundHound, Uber, WeChat are examples of companies
in February 2019, garnering praise for creativity. Raja that build front-end applications and app extensions
Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer for voice assistants.
and healthcare president at Mastercard, called the signa-
ture chimes "an important part of our brand DNA." 4. Device vendors: BMW, Apple, Amazon, Harman/
Kardon, Jabra, LingLong, Sonos and others sell a range
Brent Bowen, senior vice president of payments at Valid, of device platforms such as vehicles, smartphones, ear
a payment card issuer, has seen companies leverage buds and smart speakers with voice capabilities.
technology to stimulate senses through sound, light and
biometrics. "In Mastercard's case, the company saw sound
as a new way to resonate with its customers, creating
customized haptics to confirm transactions." Contributed articles inside by:

Today's digital voice assistants use voice as an interactive Brandes Elitch ........................................................................................19
medium, taking sound to a new level. Siri, Alexa, Cortana Dee and Emily Karawadra .................................................................32
and Google Assistant answer questions, play songs and Suresh Dakshina ...................................................................................34
place orders. Brian Roemmele, scientist, researcher and
public speaker credited with coining the term "voice Nicholas Cucci ........................................................................................36
first," believes smart speakers are just a fraction of voice Adam Atlas ..............................................................................................38
technology's potential and capabilities. There are many
reasons why this is called the "Voice First Revolution," he TOC on page 3
stated.

Continued on page 30