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More than half of consumers happy to use voice to pay for low-value goods – but most shy from using the technology for larger purchases: study

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More than half of consumers would use voice to pay for low value goods, a new study has found – but most are as yet unwilling to make more costly purchases. 

The Paysafe Group Lost in Transaction: the end of risk? study questioned 6,197 adults from from six age groups and six countries including the UK, US and Canada and found that 57% would use voice-activated technology such as Amazon Alexa to pay for low-value goods and services. Some 11% have already used voice to confirm their identity when buying online. However, only 18% would do so to book a flight or make another large purchase, with 81% saying the lack of password protection made them uncomfortable. 

More than half (53%) believe that voice-activated technology is quicker and more convenient than traditional payment methods. Some 62% said that a greater choice of verification methods – such as voice and fingerprint – would make them feel more secure about making payments online. 

Some 45% said they either would, or would be open to, sign up for a subscription using voice while 47% would pay for an entertainment service , and 44% would make a one-off payment or transfer. Fewer are keen to use voice to sign up for retail purchases: 39% would order and pay for groceries using voice, 24% would buy clothing and fashion accessories, 23% would buy household goods such as toilet paper in bulk, 22% would buy Christmas and birthday gifts, and 17% would buy furniture or domestic appliances. But a third (33%) would not buy anything from the Paysafe list of 17 possible scenarios involving voice payments.

Argos (pictured) and Amazon are both among the retailers that already enable shoppers to use voice commerce during the course of a transaction. Argos shoppers can reserve an item for pick-up in store and later purchase, while those using Amazon’s Alexa can opt to use a four-digit code to prevent unintended purchases.

Both are Elite retailers in IRUK Top500 research.

Image courtesy of Argos

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