8 New things to experience with Amazon Alexa

With the launching of new Amazon-powered devices for smarter home and office, it announces new software development as well. The new development is about to make Alexa more conversational and less transactional and some other feature which will improve the overall voice assistant experience.

Setting new routines

Routines are a good way to make Alexa work by grouping various actions to a single command or having them pause at the same time every day. Amazon revealed that it would be expanding routines to make it smoother for you. From controlling the home automation to using it on office works, new routines will be helpful. Also, routines for kids are introduced to help them with daily tasks.

  

Location-based reminders

The Amazon Alexa skills got the wonderful feature of location-based reminders. You can set the reminder of for example, “Alexa, remind me to call my Dad when I get home.” As soon as you reach home, your phone will receive the notification reminding you to perform the task.

More helpful in the kitchen

Alexa is already doing great with features like making grocery lists, multiple timers and other third-party cooking skills, now it will be able to offer step-by-step instructions too.

Multistep commands

Yes, the new software upgradation let you make multiple commands at one sentences. For example, “Alexa switch off the light, close the door and play a soothing music”. Alexa is now capable of doing multi-tasks on one request.

Calling with Skype

Alexa can directly call a person from your Skype contact list. With just one command, she will be able to make both voice and video calls to any person, anywhere in the world.

Local Voice Control

Generally, when the internet goes out, Alexa speakers stop working altogether. However, with these development Echo devices (built-in smart home hubs), will be able to control your smart home devices that works on the same local wireless network. But this feature will not work with existing devices without the built-in hub features.

Email integration

Alexa will soon get email integration, too. After linking a Gmail, Outlook or Hotmail account, you can say, "Alexa, do I have any new emails?" It will read through your emails and you will be able to reply using your voice.

Whisper mode

The upcoming Whisper Mode for Alexa speakers is a unique take on controlling the voice and not disturbing others. If you whisper your command to Alexa, she will also response whispering back.

These upcoming updates are making us excited to work more on its skills. Being one of the Amazon Alexa Skills Development company, we are looking for more great updates from Amazon. The future of AI is here and you need to take the full advantage of it.

You can read more here: https://www.sphinx-solution.com/blog/category/amazon-alexa-skill-development/ 

Amazon Launches New Echo Products to Strength Its Foothold

With the launch of brand new devices from Amazon house, we are ready to work on some new Amazon Alexa skill Development too. For your convenience, we are sharing a list of some amazing products which can lighten up your office and home.

Here in this write-up, we have only talked about a few products for which we can develop the Alexa skills.

• Amazon Echo Dot

The favorite Amazon Echo Dot comes with an improved design and sound quality. It has a speaker size of 1.6 inches which can be connected via a 3.5 mm cable or Bluetooth. The enhanced voice quality makes Alexa catch your far-field voice and carry out your orders. From setting the alarm to daily news, Alexa is well developed to carry out your daily tasks. Even in places like Mexico, US and Canada, the Echo Dot is supported to place free audio calls.

• The new Echo Show

The revamped Echo Show comes with improved sound quality and a 10 inch HD screen. It let you set-up the smart home with different interesting options in it. So, the new Echo Show is more entertaining than before.

• The Echo Plus

For this product, Amazon is using the Zigbee protocol, a widely used smart home protocol to connect sensors, bulbs, and camera which enable easy communication between these devices. Besides, the Ask Alexa features the Echo Plus also has a temperature sensor. Its speakers are powered by Dolby play 360 degrees. It also comes with features like seven microphones, beamforming technology, and noise cancellation.

• The Echo Sub

The Echo Sub is a subwoofer. It can be wirelessly paired with other Echo devices through Alexa to deliver better sound or stereo effect.

Echo Input

The Echo Input will let you add Alexa to your existing speaker and connects to your speaker through a 3.5mm audio cable or via Bluetooth. It is 12.5 mm in height, can be connected to other normal speakers too.

• Echo Auto

Now you can enjoy the power of the Amazon Alexa skill Echo with the Echo Auto even one the go. This device allows connecting with your car by connecting through your phone. The eight microphones are made in such a way that the Echo Auto can hear your voice over music, A/C, and road noise.

Other products like Amazon smart plug, echo wall clock, Echo link and Amp, AmazonBasics Microwave are also launched with the above products.

There is still a surge in demand for developing Amazon Alexa skills and with this product launch, the marketplace will be introduced to more skills. 

How Real Estate can take advantages of Amazon Alexa Skill?

As Amazon Alexa’s popularity is growing, so do it is helping different industry and business with better customer engagement.

If you are someone from the real estate sector, you will be glad to know that Amazon Alexa has great opportunities for you people too. Today, we are talking why real estate brokers need their own Alexa skill and how it can benefit them.

1. The efficient Alexa saves you time

Undoubtedly, AmazonAlexa skill development can save you time by enlisting the important appointments and more. Well, if you use it efficiently and develop a skill, it will save both you and your team’s time. As we are aware, real estate agents hunt for information and never short on questions. To empower your team when you are not available for confusion clearing or offering new information, Alexa can help.

All you have to do is to load it with FAQs, tips and other information which will help them to work without seeking help from others.

2. Always connected with Alexa skills

With a one-time investment of a few hours, you can manage to stay connected with prospective agents and show the value of your brokerage. Develop an Alexa skill that agents can put onto their existing briefing schedule so that they effortlessly receive pre-recorded message every morning.

3. Increase your profile

You might be a loyal and a well-known real estate agent but must increase your profile by implementing cutting-edge technology onto your work environment. The technology innovations like voice-based assistant can help you and makes your profile looks really attractive.

You can also incorporate as many skills as you want. Amazon has made the platform open for the developers to bring out the best with the help of Amazon Skill development kit.

Do you need help to develop your own skill?

It is claimed that developing an Amazon Alexa skill and implementing it is not rocket science. But if you don’t develop it properly, it might not work as expected. Taking help from the Alexa skill development company is a good idea. Even, the agency can help you in long run IT solutions.

  

How can Amazon Alexa help the hospitality sector?

No doubt, Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa is growing. The businesses so far got the Amazon Alexa skills to experiment and incorporate different skills to help the employee. Now, all these amazing skills make Amazon echo devices ready to transform the hospitality sector too.

Previously we have seen, how Alexa can book cab when asked, now it is capable of offering all-round customer support. Echo is all set to bring the voice-controlled virtual assistant to hotel rooms. Isn’t that exciting? Surely, the hotels will see new form of interaction with the customers.

Let’s check how it will deliver a great customer experience simple.

Using the Amazon Echo in the hotel's room, guests can control and adjust the compatible in-room devices like lights, blinds, TV, thermostats and other objects to their choice or can ask Alexa to play music. The smart home operation is truly an out of the box idea. The hospitality providers can also develop custom skills to customize the guest experience more.

For example, Alexa, order room service”

"Alexa, send up two more towels"

“Alexa, call the front desk”

“Alexa, help me check out

are some of the commands, mentioned by Amazon.

Amazon Skill developers and Solution providers can help to deliver great guest experiences. Until May 2017, Amazon sold more than 10 million Alexa-enabled devices. Alexa skills marketplace has achieved incredible growth thereby creasing the total Alexa Skills from 1000 to 15000 in just one year.

In fact, business analysts taking notice of this trend have predicted that the Alexa is set to become a $10 billion industry by the end of 2020. Even Gartner estimates the importance of voice assistants, it predicts-30% of human interaction with machines will take place by voice commands.

Indeed, voice interaction will be the next paradigm shift in the technology that will define the interaction between humans and machines.

At the moment it is available in two hotels of the Marriott International group which is working in partnership with Amazon, the Marriott City Centre in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Irvine Spectrum in Irvine City, California.

Other hotels across the world can also opt for the program and receive Alexa devices to equip the rooms.

This is indeed a great news for offering seamless customer experience. If you are looking to develop Amazon Alexa skill for your business. We are here to help you out.