Starbucks rolls out voice-controlled functionality
Users in the US will now be able to order coffee via voice commands through its mobile app and Amazon Alexa devices
Starbucks has integrated voice recognition technology within its US mobile iOS app and across Amazon Alexa platforms in a move to provide a more “personal” experience.
Available through the coffee giant’s mobile app, which allows customers to order and pay for their items before arriving at their store, customers will now be able to use voice commands when ordering their beverages.
In addition, the firm has launched a Reorder Skill on the Amazon Alexa platform, allowing customers to order their “usual” Starbucks food and beverage items as they move throughout their day.
Customers simply need to say “Alexa, order my Starbucks,” giving them the ability to order their usual items from their store wherever they have an Alexa device.
“The Starbucks experience is built on the personal connection between our barista and customer, so everything we do in our digital ecosystem must reflect that sensibility,” said Gerri Martin-Flickinger, chief technology officer for Starbucks.
“Our team is focused on making sure that Starbucks voice ordering within our app is truly personal and equally important was finding the right partner in Amazon to test and learn from this new capability.”
The voice command technology is initially available to one thousand customers across the US, and plans for a continued phased rollout through summer 2017 with an Android version to follow later this year.
“These initial releases are easy to use providing a direct benefit to customers within their daily routine and we are confident that this is the right next step in creating convenient moments to complement our more immersive formats,” added Martin-Flickinger.