Voice-Enabled IoT can make your business smarter. Here’s how!

The Internet of Things is already an active part of all of our lives. From smart thermostats and speakers to a grocery list you dictate to a virtual assistant while driving, these connected devices have made countless parts of life easier. Perhaps surprisingly, the number of businesses adopting Internet of Things IoT Applications to drive efficiency up and the bottom line down has lagged behind consumer adoption.

The largest untapped area of Internet of Things Application (IoT) is voice activation, both in terms of applications and deployment in existing devices. However, as a post-pandemic world embraces touchless technology at an unprecedented rate, voice-activated IoT is gaining traction.

Benefits of Voice-activated IoT

Using voice to engage is intuitive and natural, but voice-activated devices offer additional benefits as well.

Hygiene
With public health driving current conversations, touchless devices are gaining in popularity. The less you use touch to engage with devices, the less risk. Everywhere cross-contamination occurs–keypads at checkout, buttons and dials inside your vehicle, keychains and door knobs– a voice-activated device can reduce the need for physical contact.

Convenience
A single voice-enabled device can control a number of systems, eliminating the need for multiple controllers or engaging with multiple devices. Additionally, voice-activated devices make complex operations possible while driving, minimizing the risks of distraction. IoT can make asset management and tracking simple and on-demand.

Cost-Savings
Voice-enabled devices have the unique ability to reduce costs by eliminating the need for touchscreens. For devices that are used intermittently and are frequently dormant, voice activation is of particular value.

Accessibility
Voice-enabled devices are perfectly suited for mobility-impaired users. From performing basic tasks such as thermostat adjustments and light control to complex uses like navigation apps for the visually impaired, voice-activation gives disabled users greater access to the world.

The Market for Everyday Voice-Enabled IoT

In the United States, almost 55 million people already own at least one voice-enabled IoT device, not including smartphones. The global market for voice-enabled IoT devices is projected to grow more than twenty times in future. This is significant when considering that annual global spending on smart home systems alone.

The Impact of Iot on Businesses

Despite rapid adoption in certain industries, IoT business solutions are still in their early stages for many enterprises. A recent survey revealed that 75% of companies acknowledge the value of voice-activated technology but have yet to integrate it into their operations. The time for change is now.

Current State and Projections for IoT in Enterprises by 2024:

1. Healthcare:
   • Over 60% of healthcare organizations currently use IoT devices. This includes advanced applications such as remote patient monitoring and connected medical devices, which have revolutionized patient care and data management (MDPI, 2022).
   • An additional 20% of healthcare providers are expected to adopt IoT technologies within the next two years, driven by the need for improved efficiency and patient outcomes (ScienceDirect, 2023).
2. Manufacturing:
   • The manufacturing sector has seen significant growth in IoT adoption, with an 84% increase from 2016 to 2017. This trend has continued, and IoT adoption in manufacturing is expected to reach 90% by 2024 (ScienceDirect, 2023).
   • IoT applications in manufacturing include predictive maintenance, smart factories, and supply chain optimization, contributing to substantial productivity gains and cost savings (ScienceDirect, 2023).
3. Voice-Activated Technology:
   • By 2022, voice technology was projected to capture up to 12% of industrial IoT applications. Current trends suggest that voice-activated IoT applications will achieve 20% penetration in industrial settings by 2024, enhancing operations through hands-free control and improved human-machine interactions (MDPI, 2022; ScienceDirect, 2023).

These figures highlight the transformative potential of IoT devices in reducing inefficiencies, improving productivity, and optimizing supply chains, making them essential tools for modern enterprises.

Three Types of Voice, Limitless Applications

The three types of voice used in Iot devices lend themselves to distinctly different applications. Bi-directional voice is interactive and is used in voice-integrated video surveillance, wearable devices, and customer interaction. Mono-directional voice communication requires lower bandwidth than bi-directional and can be used in automated building controls, voice recognition door entry, and intercom systems. Voice recognition systems can respond to multiple languages or voices and are suitable for home automation, consumer devices, and vehicular applications.

Integration Made Simple

Up until now, the cost of integration and time to market has discouraged businesses who wish to integrate voice into their IoT solutions. With fast-track processes and fixed-price enablement, Speridian can voice-enable Wi-Fi devices quickly and efficiently, producing remarkable ROI.