The 21st century has been defined by technology that is constantly revolutionising the way we live our daily lives, including how we run our businesses.
From mobile technology to artificial intelligence and more, it seems there’s always some new type of B&B technology for you to consider.
Lately, the buzz has been about voice recognition and how it’s impacting travel trends around the globe. So, is this the next type of technology that you need to invest in?
What is voice recognition?
If you’ve ever asked Siri a question or placed an Amazon Prime order via Alexa, then you know just how great voice recognition technology can be.
Voice recognition is the up-and-coming way many people are getting the information they need. In fact, voice searches have increased by more than 40%, and people love that they get direct, personal results for their specific requests.
Voice recognition allows people to search on-the-go, including when they are driving or taking care of another task. While home devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are becoming increasingly popular, most people have access to voice recognition technology in the palm of their hands. The vast majority of smartphones are already capable of voice searches.
Notable voice recognition travel trends
So, how is voice recognition impacting the travel industry? Here are a few notable trends to consider:
- Across the board, people are becoming increasingly reliant on voice recognition technology. It’s expected that 67 million US households will have a voice-assisted device in their homes by 2019. The elusive Siri, of the iPhone, gets more than two billion queries every week. This technology is swiftly rising to the top, and it appears it is here to stay.
- Voice recognition is changing the SEO game, especially for travel-related businesses. For years, B&B operators have created content that focuses on search terms that were typed into a search engine. Now, the content needs to optimised for voice recognition queries, which lends itself to questions rather than keywords.
- Capitalising on micro-moments is critical, as this is when searchers are most likely to use their voice-assisted devices. For instance, a traveller who made a last-minute booking for your destination may quickly ask Amazon’s Alexa, “Which B&Bs have availability in Paris?” You should be able to capture your target audience during these fleeting, yet powerful, moments.
Is voice recognition right for your B&B?
In addition to adjusting your B&B marketing strategy to accommodate users who rely heavily on voice recognition technology, you may want to consider implementing this technology in your B&B.
Purchasing a few Echo dots or Google home devices to place in your rooms can provide your guests with a convenient way to order extras, get their questions answered and even book tours and activities.
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