Your e-commerce glossary

All the terms you need to know to succeed in modern e-commerce, explained simply and clearly.

Back to Glossary

What is Voice Search?

Voice search allows customers to search for products on a Shopify store using voice commands, making shopping more convenient, hands-free, and accessible.

Explanation

Voice search technology enables users to search for products by speaking commands or queries into their devices, rather than typing. This feature uses natural language processing (NLP) and voice recognition to understand and process spoken language. By integrating voice search into a Shopify store, merchants offer a hands-free, convenient shopping experience that is becoming increasingly popular due to the rise of voice-activated devices like smartphones, smart speakers, and virtual assistants. Voice search is particularly useful for customers who are on the go or those who prefer a faster, more efficient way of finding products.

Importance

  • Convenient Shopping: Voice search provides a hands-free, faster way for customers to find products, improving their overall shopping experience.
  • Enhanced Accessibility: Customers with disabilities or those who find typing difficult can use voice search to navigate and shop with ease.
  • Increased Conversion Rates: By offering an easy and quick search experience, voice search can lead to higher engagement and improved sales.
  • Time-Saving: Customers can search for products while multitasking, reducing time spent on searching, which can lead to faster decisions and higher conversions.
  • Future-Proofing: As voice-activated technology becomes more widespread, having voice search integrated into your Shopify store ensures that your business remains modern and relevant.

How It Works

  • Voice Command Activation: Customers activate the voice search feature by clicking on a microphone icon or using a voice assistant like Siri or Google Assistant.
  • Speech Recognition: The app uses speech-to-text technology to transcribe the spoken query into text, which is then processed.
  • Product Matching: The transcribed query is processed by the search system, which matches it to the most relevant products in the store’s catalog.
  • Displaying Results: The search results are displayed on the website, with the most relevant products appearing first.
  • Refining Search: Depending on the app, customers can refine their search further, such as filtering by category, price, or rating.

Benefits

  • Improved User Experience: Voice search is more intuitive for users, making it easier for them to find products without having to type.
  • Hands-Free Shopping: Ideal for customers who are busy or unable to type, providing an accessible and efficient way to browse your store.
  • Better Engagement: Voice search creates a more interactive and engaging shopping experience, encouraging users to explore your store further.
  • Increased Convenience: Customers can multitask while shopping, adding to the overall convenience and boosting the likelihood of completing a purchase.
  • Optimized for Mobile: Voice search is highly suitable for mobile users, where typing can be cumbersome, improving the mobile shopping experience.

Top Shopify Apps for Voice Search:

Abandoned Cart Recovery
Qe: Speechify | Voice Search

- Allows customers to control the website and search for products using voice commands.

- Enhances the shopping experience by offering a more interactive and hands-free way of browsing.

- Supports both product search and site navigation, making it easier for users to find what they need.

Abandoned Cart Recovery
Searchanise Search & Filter

- A powerful search and filtering tool that supports voice search along with other advanced features like autocomplete and synonyms.

- Provides a fast, relevant search experience and improves customer satisfaction.

- Offers intelligent search capabilities, making it easier for customers to find products by voice or text.

ExpertRec Smart Search Bar

- An AI-powered search bar that supports voice search, allowing users to find products using their voice.

- Improves the search functionality with fast, accurate results that enhance user engagement.

- Features a customizable search bar that adapts to the store’s design while providing intelligent search results.