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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.  

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.

Talking Shop, Making Voice Work is a new podcast produced by Europe’s leading voice agency Vixen Labs and hosted by CEO James Poulter. Join for a deep dive into how consumers are using Voice daily to connect with businesses, and more key insights from our Voice Consumer Index 2021 report to understand how to use Voice as part of your marketing plan.