Voice-assisted commerce is likely to be the next frontier for retailers.

Rising comfort levels with virtual assistants and chatbots, as well as advances in technology, voice commands and messaging apps are presenting new sales platforms.

“A shift has begun from consumer usage of websites to platforms like messaging apps and connected devices, so retailers and brands are trying to follow them there—and exploring the possibilities of using these channels for digital commerce,” said eMarketer analyst Krista Garcia, the author of a new eMarketer report, “Conversational Commerce 2017: Chatbots and Virtual Assistants.” (The full report is available only to eMarketer PRO subscribers).

At its most basic, conversational commerce represents the intersection of messaging apps and virtual assistants with shopping.

On the surface, voice-enabled speakers and chatbots might not seem that similar, despite both platforms harnessing AI and some degree of natural language processing, but in many ways both have the potential for added convenience, speeding up customer service interactions and removing friction from sales conversion.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: retail.emarketer.com