Boost eCommerce Conversions & Optimize your Search-to-Purchase Funnel with Multilingual Voice Search

As an eCommerce entrepreneur or marketeer in India, you’re always on the lookout for innovative ways to enhance customer engagement and drive conversions. Stats show us that - as of 2023, one-third of all search queries in India are spoken, according to a Google executive. With the rapid growth of smartphones and advancements in natural language processing, voice search is set to become even more prevalent. This shift is transforming how consumers shop online, with 51% of voice search users utilizing it to research products, making voice-enabled shopping faster and more convenient than ever. This inturn makes multilingual voice search not just an option—but a necessity. But how does this technology contribute to higher conversion rates, and what kind of ROI can you expect from investing in it?

The Power of Multilingual Voice Search in Indian eCommerce

• Improving Customer Engagement: A study by KPMG and Google revealed that 90% of internet users in India prefer to use their native language to search and interact online. Major global online marketplaces in India such as Zomato, Swiggy and Meesho have capitalized on this by offering voice search in Hindi, which has led to increased user engagement and repeat purchases. By catering to the linguistic preferences of their customers, they have created a more personalized and satisfying shopping experience.
• Competitive Edge: In the highly competitive Indian eCommerce landscape, offering multilingual voice search can differentiate your brand. Several online fashion retailers in India have introduced multilingual voice search feature that supports Indian languages, making it easier for non-English speaking customers to find products they love. This not only enhanced user experience but also helped such retailers gain a competitive edge in a market where linguistic diversity is vast.
• Reaching New Markets: India is home to 22 officially recognized languages and countless dialects. For eCommerce platforms, this means that a one-size-fits-all approach simply won’t work. Several leading Indian online retailers have recognized this and have implemented voice search capabilities in multiple Indian languages. By allowing customers to search in languages like Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and more, they have made their platform more accessible to a broader audience, especially in Tier II and Tier III cities.

How Multilingual Voice Search Boosts Conversion Rates

• Tailored Search Results: Multilingual voice search delivers more accurate and culturally relevant search results. For instance, online marketplaces including Decathlon saw a noticeable increase in conversions after optimizing their platforms for regional languages. By understanding the nuances of different languages, they were able to present more relevant products to users, leading to quicker and more satisfying purchases.
• Reduced Cart Abandonment: The cart abandonment rate in India is significantly high, with studies showing that over 70% of shopping carts are abandoned before purchase. However, when an Indian online grocery store (JioMart) implemented voice search in multiple languages, they managed to reduce this rate by making it easier for customers to find and purchase products without language barriers, thereby decreasing the likelihood of cart abandonment.
• Localized Promotions and Recommendations: Online platforms have effectively used multilingual voice search to offer localized promotions and product recommendations. By understanding customer preferences in different languages, they have been able to drive impulse purchases and increase average order value, especially during regional festivals and local sales events.

The ROI of Multilingual Voice Search

• Initial Investment: Implementing multilingual voice search requires an initial investment, but the long-term benefits often outweigh the costs. However, when eCommerce platforms introduced multilingual voice search to accommodate a diverse user base, brands experienced a notable increase in overall sales within months of implementation.
• Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV): Offering personalized shopping experiences through multilingual voice search enhances customer retention. Businesses that have integrated this technology often report higher customer lifetime value, with notable increases in repeat purchases from users who engage regularly with voice search features.
• Efficiency and Scalability: Once implemented, multilingual voice search can be scaled efficiently across different regions with minimal additional costs. Companies that have expanded their voice search capabilities across various regions have achieved substantial increases in conversion rates without a proportional rise in operational expenses.

Case Study: Multilingual Voice Search: Enhancing eCommerce Experience for iOS Users

About: An eCommerce platform catering to iOS users aimed to enhance user experience by bridging the language gap, seeking to offer voice search capabilities in multiple languages, including English and Hindi. To achieve this, they integrated intuitive voice search APIs from Reverie.

Challenge: The platform faced a significant challenge in providing seamless voice search and assistance for both English and Hindi users on their iOS app. Without built-in support for these languages, they needed a robust solution to ensure that their diverse user base could easily interact with the platform using voice commands.

Solution: Reverie delivered an intuitive API solution that enabled voice-based search functionality in both English and Hindi. This integration allowed users to navigate the app effortlessly, search for products, and manage their carts using simple voice commands in their preferred language.

Outcome: With the integration of Reverie's multilingual voice search capabilities, iOS users experienced the same level of convenience previously available only to Android users. The introduction of voice commands in both English and Hindi significantly improved user ease, operational efficiency, and overall satisfaction. This enhancement led to a remarkable customer satisfaction rating of 4.6/5. The platform successfully bridged the language gap for iOS users, elevating the overall shopping experience and achieving high customer engagement and interaction rates.

Support Engagement Since: 2022; API Calls Processed: 10 Million+; Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Rate: 4.6/5

Technology Used:

• Speech-to-Text (STT): This technology converts spoken language into written text, enabling users to execute voice-based commands and search functionalities within the eCommerce app seamlessly.

Conclusion: A Strategic Move for Growth

Investing in multilingual voice search is not just about adopting the latest technology—it’s a strategic move that can significantly enhance customer experience, boost conversion rates, and deliver a strong ROI. As an eCommerce entrepreneur in India, staying ahead of the curve with multilingual voice search could be the key to unlocking new levels of growth and success. By speaking your customers’ language, you’re not just facilitating transactions; you’re building lasting relationships that drive long-term profitability. 

So the question is - “Are you ready to take your eCommerce business to the next level?” If YES! then, explore how multilingual voice search can help you connect with more customers, drive higher conversions, and achieve a significant ROI. Don’t wait—integrate Reverie’s APIs to harness the power of ‘Indian Language Voice Search’ and elevate your online strategy.