Talking Shop

This week we are unpacking what was said at Alexa Live - Amazon's tech conference for developers. The annual event often reveals what's on the roadmap. This year it's all about expanding the features already available on Alexa with improved functionality for Alexa Auto and Alexa Routines. In this episode of Talking Shop, we hear from Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter and Creative Strategist Rich Merrett as they discuss the announcements and think about how they could be used by brands and businesses.   Talking Shop is taking a break for the Summer, so make sure you subscribe to the show so you don't miss future episodes.   Alexa Live 2022 official blog   Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss the next episode of Talking Shop Download the Vixen Labs Voice Consumer Index 2022 Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

This week we take a close look at the habits and routines people have formed around voice tech. Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter reveals the findings from our latest Voice Consumer Index research which looked at voice usage in the UK, US and Germany. We also meet Vixen Labs researcher Chloe Prince as she tells about her role at the agency, and catch up with creative strategist Rich Merrett to discover the latest news from Amazon re:MARS event.   From the Vixen Labs Blog Meet Vixen Labs researcher Chloe Prince   Rich's news links… Amazon's re:MARS event Alexa's head scientist on conversational exploration, ambient AI Alexa deepfakes deceased grandma's voice to read to a child Astro the Alexa-driven beat boxing cup holder   Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss the next episode of Talking Shop Download the Vixen Labs Voice Consumer Index 2022 Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

It's time to reveal this year's voice tech research from Vixen Labs! The Voice Consumer Index 2022 is now available for download, revealing the latest stats around the usage and behaviour of voice assistants in the UK, US and Germany. In this episode of Talking Shop, Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter gives an overview of the UK and US usage stats. We also hear from creative strategist Rich Merrett as he explains more about Google sunsetting Google Actions, and some new use cases for synthetic voice.   Rich's news links... Google sunsets Google Actions Google Duplex launches in Brazil Discord launches text to voice channels Krafton reveals virtual human, Ana Conversational AI therapy startup Wysa earns FDA breakthrough certification Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss the next episode of Talking Shop Download the Vixen Labs Voice Consumer Index 2022 Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

In this episode Vixen Labs' strategist, Scot Westwater exclusively reveals what we can expect from this year's Voice Consumer Index research. The VCI 2022 data will hit your inbox on June 21 if you're signed up to our mailing list (head to vixenlabs.co/newsletter to make sure you are!) We also hear from Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter about the importance of voice search and Rich Merret gives a run-down of the latest voice tech news, including this week's announcement that Google is to sunset Google Actions. JP's presentation to The Like Minds Nudge Ideas Festival Google sunsets Google Actions   Don't forget to... Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss the next episode of Talking Shop Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.  

In our all new magazine show you'll hear Vixen Labs CCO Jen Heape speaking about her recent presentation at How Design Live in Boston. We also catch up with CEO James Poulter as he offers his thoughts on the connection between earbuds and the metaverse, plus we have a round-up of the latest news from the voice tech industry presented by voice strategist Rich Merrett.   Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss the next episode of Talking Shop Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. (Hint: New report coming June 2022) Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

How will Voice fit into the metaverse? How can we be sure of who we are speaking to when it comes to metaverse conversations? And where do NFTs fit into all this? Vixen Labs audio creative Suze Cooper spoke with Vixen's CEO JP, Ian Utilie of attn.live and EVP at Veritone One Sean King. You can listen to the full interview here.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don't miss an episode of Talking Shop Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

In this Talking Shop Shorts episode, we revisit our season one interview with former Procter & Gamble executive Milan Turk. Voice commerce is growing and retailers are figuring out how best to handle transactions and returns via Voice. You can listen to the full interview here.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

This week on Talking Shop Shorts we listen back to our interview with McDonald's Digital Portfolio Manager Steve Pearce. A voice pioneer in the fast food industry, Steve talks to JP about the importance of being where the customer is. You can listen to the full episode here.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

Our Talking Shop Shorts episode this week is all about fintech.  Finance specialist and Digital Scouting founder Dr Robin Kiera joins JP to talk about what happens when voice tech meets banking. Are fears over data privacy are going to put an end to voice banking before it's really begun? You can listen to the full episode here Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

This week on Talking Shop Shorts we are revisiting our fantastic interview content marketing director Lottie Norman of tour company Contiki. This one is pure gold for anyone working in content marketing and wondering how Voice might fit into that. We had trouble finding the best bit to use for our Shorts episode so make sure you check out the rest of the conversation here. Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

It's all about entertainment on this week's episode of Talking Shop Shorts. We revisit our Season 1 chat with Lauren Fitzgerald and James Barlett from Sony Music UK and hear how artists are creating bespoke content for Voice. To discover more about why voice search is so important to Sony click here, and listen to the full episode.    Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.  

Season 2 of Talking Shop is coming soon! Until then we are diving into the archive and bringing you Talking Shop Shorts. This week Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter speaks to Harry P. Pappas. In this episode of Talking Shop Shorts, Harry explains how voice technology could revolutionize nurse call technology. Harry is the founder of Intelligent Health Association and co-author of ‘Voice Technology in Healthcare: Leveraging Voice to Enhance Patient and Provider Experiences' How could a surgeon rely on voice tech in the operating theater? Click here to listen to the full episode.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

As we gear up for Season 2 we're bringing you Talking Shop Shorts – the best of Talking Shop season 1. This week we're going back to Episode 2 “Can voice technology bridge the gap in retail?”. In thisTalking Shop Shorts episode Vixen Labs CEO James Poulter talks to Massimo Volpe and Manolo Almagro about how voice could change customer service.  Massimo is founder of the Global Retail Alliance and Manolo is managing partner at Q Division. How could we be using voice tech to search for and purchase products? Click here to listen to the full episode.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.  

Season 2 of Talking Shop is coming soon, but while we ready our research machine we thought we would dive back into our archive and pull out some insights from season 1 that you might have missed.   In episode 1 of Talking Shop Shorts episode we revisit our chat with Open Voice Network executive director Jon Stine and co-founders of Pragmatic Digital, Scot and Susan Westwater.   Want to hear the full episode and discover how voice technology can be used to create a better customer experience? Just click here.   Three steps to staying in the know: Hit like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you're first to find out when Season 2 of Talking Shop drops. Sign up to our mailing list at vixenlabs.co to find out when our next research findings are available. Follow us on social media @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

Recorded LIVE on Twitter Spaces on January 5, 2022 This bonus episode of Talking Shop features a live panel discussion between Vixen Labs' CEO James Poulter, EVP at Veritone One Sean King and CEO of Attn.Live Ian Utile. Drawing on the presentations they gave at Voice Summit 2022, the trio give a fascinating account of where they see voice heading over the next 12 months. And it is everywhere. We talk about moving on from voice as a 'plaything', and what comes after the smart speaker, exploring voice in the metaverse and the possibility of voice NFTs (or NFVs as JP has coined them).    Want to join the team? We're recruiting! Check out vixenlabs.co/careers to find out more.

Voice shopping is a gratifying act. As humans, we love to talk about what we want and like, and voice enables us to do so effortlessly. It also simplifies tedious payment and return procedures. To tell us more, we have invited former Procter & Gamble Executive Milan Turk on our podcast.

Shopping nowadays is a gratifying act. But voice shopping is even better. Because it satisfies the human need to ask for what we want, to talk about what we like, and to do so effortlessly.  Sure, voice shopping is here to make transactions, complicated returns, and other tedious procedures easier for everyone. However, voice plays another fundamental role in our shopping experience: it's natural, it's personal. To explain more on how voice can change the future of shopping around, we've invited Procter & Gamble ex-Executive Milan Turk on this eighth and last in the VCI 2021 series episode. Listen now! Don't forget to download our full VCI 2021 report for a comprehensive analysis of the most recent voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany,  And follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

The pandemic has definitely challenged how we enjoy our food. While safe takeaways became the new norm, voice simplified ordering and collecting them. And big brands like McDonald's adapted to their customer's needs. Find out how from their Digital Portfolio Manager.

As safe takeaway evenings replaced eating out habits in the pandemic, voice adoption increased among fast food lovers. Fast, convenient, and touchless. It's no surprise that McDonald's wanted to be a pioneer in this field. Together, we created a skill that satisfies top consumer needs such as finding their nearest McDonald's, checking opening times and services, initiating an order, and more. To talk about the Amazon Alexa McDonald's skill in the UK, as well as voice tech and multi-platform integrations in the fast food industry, we welcome Steve Pearce, Digital Portfolio Manager at McDonald's UK. For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends across industries in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

While banks are slowly adopting voice-first technology to identify and relieve customer pain points, we take an exclusive peek inside the industry with Dr. Robin Kiera, finance specialist, founder of Digitalscouting and renowned global speaker.

The past couple of years have affected not only our entertainment patterns, but also how we spend our money - and if we are spending, then we need to know what's in the bank! The insurance and banking sectors are slowly adopting voice-first technology to identify customer pain points and relieve them. From PSD2 integrations to balance-checking voice skills, the full potential of voice is yet to be revealed. Dr. Robin Kiera, insurance and finance specialist, founder of Digitalscouting and renowned world speaker, joins us today to highlight where the appetite for voice is in banking. For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

In disruptive times, travel companies like Contiki had to readapt. Their Content Marketing Director, Lottie Norman, tells us more about the role of voice in travel, and how they used top-of-funnel content and ambient experiences to keep that wanderlust feeling alive.

The travel sector has been one of the most disrupted by the pandemic. But instead of counting their losses, companies like Contiki focused on winning at customer service and top-of-funnel content. In this episode, we speak with Lottie Norman, Content Marketing Director at Contiki, to explore the role of voice in their strategy. Voice assistance, podcast efforts, and adopting a multi-channel approach have not only supported travelers during the pandemic, but also reminded them of how good travel can get. Tune in! For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.   Other skills and content mentioned here:  Amazon Alexa Skill – Contiki: Pack My Bags Contiki Podcast – Out of Office Contiki YouTube Series – The Road Trip

Voice changed the way we search for music nowadays. The genre-based approach has been overtaken by mood-centric playlist explorations, while skills like Hand Wash Tunes are connecting fans with artists in innovative contexts.

Entertainment is one of the original voice use cases on smart speakers. But, as ambient experiences evolve, more marketing opportunities arise through voice. Nowadays, skills like Paloma's Bedtime and Hand Wash Tunes open new avenues for fans to connect with artists outside usual circumstances. And, while more and more people are searching for music based on mood and time of day, a great voice strategy can increase artist discoverability.  We're chatting about new voice trends in entertainment with James Bartlett and Lauren Fitzgerald of Sony Music UK. Tune in! For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

The healthcare system has embraced voice like no other. We're looking at how voice assistants can improve patient care, staff management, and even surgery procedures with Intelligent Health Association founder and book author, Harry P. Pappas.

Imagine a world where voice assistants tell you the pathogen levels in the operating theatre. Or where they take the pressure off medical staff by performing tasks such as readjusting lights and room temperature for patients. In our third episode, we speak to serial entrepreneur and book author Harry P. Pappas about how voice technology can revolutionise the healthcare sector. Harry is the founder of Intelligent Health Association and co-author of ‘Voice Technology in Healthcare: Leveraging Voice to Enhance Patient and Provider Experiences', as well as a great believer in the power of voice to engender change in the way people receive and provide care on a global scale. For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

In the past decade, retail has migrated from a physical business to an omni-channel presence, creating a connection gap between brand and consumer. Can voice bridge that gap and add an extra human touch to the way we do e-commerce?

In this episode, we're looking at the implications of voice in retail with Massimo Volpe, founder of Global Retail Alliance, and Manolo Almagro, Managing Partner at Q Division. Sure, we think transactionally when it comes to e-commerce, but what about using voice to turn this seemingly cold interaction into a more human experience? Could it be that, in the future, companies use voice tech to sense and soothe customer anger? Join in our conversation prompted by the findings of our Voice Consumer Index 2021, which reveal not only the most recent voice trends in retail, but also how people expect to use voice technology to search for and purchase products in the near future.  For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.  

As revealed by our Voice Consumer Index 2021, 91% of voice consumers are already using voice search via a website, mobile app, or smart speaker. So, how can we as marketers use voice tech as a tool to better serve our audience and improve customer experience?

The numbers have spoken — 91% of voice consumers are using voice search via a website, mobile app, or smart speaker.  In this episode, James is joined by Jon Stine, executive director at the Open Voice Network, and Susan and Scot Westwater, co-founders at Pragmatic Digital, to discuss this and some other key findings in the Voice Consumer Index 2021, recently compiled by Vixen Labs in partnership with the Open Voice Network. The report digs into how consumers use voice to search for brands and even make purchases across three regions — the UK, US and Germany.  Alongside an exclusive analysis of the report straight from white paper co-authors Susan and Scot, this episode focuses not only on unpacking the data, but also providing insight on how to use it to create a better experience for the consumer.  For a more comprehensive view on voice user trends in the UK, US and Germany, download our full VCI 2021 report.  And don't forget to follow us on social media for unlimited tips and insights on voice:  @Vixen_Labs on Twitter, Vixen Labs on LinkedIn,  and @vixen_labs on Instagram.

People are becoming increasingly interested in Voice on websites, mobile apps, and through smart speakers. But how exactly? And how can brands harness the power of Conversational Design, AI, and Voice-First experiences to enhance their marketing strategy?