Moreover, we have also noticed that there is a growing trend in payments that has people using their bodies as a proxy for their payment experience. By either waving their hands or authenticating through their fingertips, more and more people begin to take advantage of technology. This article will focus on people using voice commands to make a transaction and what benefits come along with this innovative feature.
How to pay with your voice
First, let’s start by explaining how voice-enabled payments actually work. Similarly to paying with an online wallet, the user must link their debit/credit card or bank account information to a certain device. In this case, we are talking about a voice-activated device. What is different here is that the user can directly command their device to perform a transaction with their voice, rather than using manual prompts.
The process is as follows: once the customer chooses their preferred payment app, they are greeted with a confirmation screen. Here, customers have to authorise the transaction via a password or biometric authentication. After this, the payment recipient verifies the amount and sends an email, text, or notification with their confirmation.
The process goes as smooth the other way around. A merchant can prompt their voice-activated device to send a money transfer request and the customer will receive a notification to confirm the requested amount.
Voice automated payments
Banks and payment service providers (PSPs) alike have to be on a continuous lookout for ways to make their customers’ payments experience as seamless as possible. What can be more frictionless than literally asking your phone to pay on your behalf? The likes of Google Voice Assistant or Siri can be used for initiating peer-to-peer (P2P) or business transactions. Of course, this fact is based on the existence of the two digital wallets, Google Pay and Amazon Pay; however, with more PSPs dipping their toes in the innovation pool, more is expected to come.
Voice-based payments trajectory
According to an OC&C Strategy report, there was over USD 2 billion worth of voice-settled payments in 2018. By 2030, the voice-based transactions industry is projected to reach over USD 14.5 billion. This projected growth is based on increasing market demand.
It seems that the younger generation has a particular attraction for this type of payment. As reported by Mercado Group, youngsters prefer adding voice commands to their mobile banking experience, especially for the following types of payments:
- 12% pay their bills by using voice commands
- 10% send money to their peers with their voice
- 6% research general banking information through voice-based prompts
- 11% perform other types of payment-related activities.
Helping disabled people pay with their voice
Voice-based payments can also be a huge help for visually impaired individuals who usually have to rely on old-fashioned screen readers (software such as text-to-speech, sound icons, or Braille devices).
With voice-enabled technology, this category of disabled people can easily look up their bank balance, order food, play music, and so much more.
Where Tap to Pay and voice-enabled payments meet
Here at Dapio, we always strive to enable our customers to benefit from the most innovative technologies available. Our Tap to Pay feature transforms the way merchants receive payments by turning their mobile devices into payment terminals. By linking this to voice-enabled devices (such as a smartwatch, for example) businesses of all sizes can accept voice-activated payments.