VOICE ASSISTANT FAQ

When a Voice Assistant receives an audio input, it must go through several steps before it can respond appropriately. Let’s say we asked a Voice Assistant to schedule a team meeting. An exemplary approach to this task can be summarized as follows:

1) Voice Assistant records speech, removes background noise and splits speech into its components.

2) Speech is interpreted in what the Assistant thinks is the most likely sentence based on the patterns.

3) The wizard determines the most important words and the most probable intention of the text.

4) If you need more information, such as time or date of the meeting, the Assistant can ask questions. Alternatively, he may decide that he is confident enough to proceed without further information.

5) Finally, the commands are processed in a decision engine and the meeting is scheduled.

Many of these tasks rely heavily on natural language processing (NLP). This is a field of computer science that generally deals with the ability of a machine to recognize what is being said, comprehend its meaning and the appropriate action, and respond in a language that the user will understand.

Within NLP, there are two subfields that pertain to Voice Assistants in particular: Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Natural Language Generation (NLG). Not surprisingly, NLU focuses primarily on the ability of machines to recognize, understand, and assign meaning to speech or text input, while NLG addresses the reverse process: converting computer-generated responses into text or speech that a human can understand.

All in all, there are three main problems that every Voice Assistant has to solve. To be effective, they must be able to convert speech input into accurate text, add structure to that text, and correctly interpret its meaning. By taking a closer look at these issues, it is possible to identify the tools needed to build a Voice Assistant that works.

Amazon’s Alexa is the voice assistant that people can talk to with their Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and other Amazon smart home devices. Like Siri (from Apple) and Cortana (from Microsoft), Alexa responds to a number of different commands and even converses with users. Alexa Skills are apps that give Alexa even more capabilities, allowing her to talk to more devices, including Websites.

Google Actions extend the functionality of Google Assistant, Google’s virtual personal assistant. With Alexa it’s called Skill and with Google it’s called Actions. Google Assistant’s functionalities can be extended through Google Actions and be applied to Smart Speakers, Smart Phones, Smart Cars, Smart TVs, Smart Headphones, Smart watches and more. Users engage Google Assistant for conversations to get things done, such as buying groceries or booking a ride.

As Google Actions developers, we can use Actions to easily create and manage delightful and effective conversational experiences between users and your Actions.

The typical question is like “what does a car cost” or “what does a mobile app cost”. The answer to that is usually “it depends on what you want”. However, we would like to help you understand the topic holistically and therefore we can roughly say that the costs start at 5,000 euros. Cheaper and expensive is always possible. Feel free to ask us and express your wishes and we can give you a very rough idea of the cost. It costs nothing to ask :).

Well, they all are the same concept, but the terminology used on different platforms is different – for example, Amazon (Alexa) and Microsoft (Cortana) use “Skill”, Google (Assistant) uses “Action”, the Apple (Siri) uses “Shortcutsn” and Samsung (Bixby) uses “Capsule”.

Here is a list of manufacturers, Voice Assistants and the ” Terminologies for the Functions”.

Developer: Google
Terminology: Google Actions
Voice Assistant: Google Assistant

Developer: Amazon
Terminology: Skill
Voice Assistant: Alexa

Developer: Samsung
Terminology: Capsule
Voice Assistant: Bixby

Developer: Apple
Terminology: Shortcuts
Voice Assistant: Siri

Developer: Microsoft
Terminology: Skill
Voice Assistant: Cortana

We have experience with User Experience Design, Programming and Voice User Interface (VUI) which is needed for Voice Assistant Skills, Actions, Shortcuts and Capsule as well. We are not a tech-only company but rather a Media-Tech company. We understand very well the Media, Target Audiences, Media Products, Media Strategy and Interaction Contexts needed for Voice Control and Voice Assistant Strategies. You can also benefit from blueShepherd’s Media-Tech experience. We don’t just develop a skill…..we develop a voice experience. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

In simple terms: What an app for smartphone/tablet is, is a Skill for Smart Assistants. Just as we have diversity in the app world (e.g. apps for Android or apps for Apple Store), there are also Skills for Alexa and Actions for Google Smart Assistants. Skills allow you to add more features and capabilities to your Amazon Echo device.

Alexa’s functionalities can be extended through Google Actions and be applied to Smart Speakers, Smart Phones, Smart Cars, Smart TVs, Smart Headphones, Smart watches and more. As Alexa Skill developers, we can use Skills to easily create and manage delightful and effective conversational experiences between users and your Skill.

Actions extend the functionality of Google Assistant, Google’s virtual personal assistant. With Alexa it’s called Skill and with Google it’s called Actions. Google Assistant’s functionalities can be extended through Google Actions and be applied to Smart Speakers, Smart Phones, Smart Cars, Smart TVs, Smart Headphones, Smart watches and more.

Users engage Google Assistant for conversations to get things done, such as buying groceries or booking a ride. As Google Actions developers, we can use Actions to easily create and manage delightful and effective conversational experiences between users and your Actions.

Yes, at present you have to create/program the functionalities separately for each Voice Assistant. This means that as of today (March 2019), there is no way to define a feature or functionality or application that automatically applies to all Voice Assistants.

You don’t have to have a skill. In any case, it is recommended that you make your presence felt NOW with a Skill, Actions, Capsule or Shortcuts and acquire experience. Of course, the opportunity cost of not serving certain target groups through Alexa Skill and the target group then using a competitor Skill should not be ignored.

The fundamental question is whether you want to use the Voice Assistant skill also as a ” Touchpoint” or “Point of Information”? The Assistants are still learning…but right now is the time for the Assistants to learn to consider “your brand or product” when a matching question is asked by User. The information here also applies to Google Actions, Siri Shortcuts and Bixby Capsule. We would certainly recommend you to be present with Alexa Skill in the German market. If the budget allows then launch Google Action as well.

It depends on what we want the target audience to know about the Brand/Product/Service. Alexa has basic information and abilities to give various information to the user. Alexa can, for example, communicate information as much as available about opening hours or weather etc. However, Alexa often cannot or does not always provide information about its own brand, product, service and scope. The information here also applies to Google Actions, Siri Shortcuts and Bixby Capsule. That’s exactly why you need skill or action. These are the advanced functionalities.

The typical question is like “what does a car cost” or “what does a mobile app cost”. The answer to that is usually “it depends on what you want”. However, we would like to help you understand the topic holistically and therefore we can roughly say that the costs start at 5,000 euros. Cheaper and expensive is always possible. Feel free to ask us and express your wishes and we can give you a very rough idea of the cost. It costs nothing to ask :).

We also have various Speech/Voice products like Speech-To-Text, Voice Search Optimization, Speech Recognition etc. In addition, various new products will come by the end of the year. Feel free to ask us about it. We can also optimize the existing Alexa Skills for user experience, usability, functionalities.

As with any software application, there are many different ways to develop an Alexa skill. The best way depends on how strong your existing technology is and how an Alexa Skill can integrate with various data sources. The easiest and fastest way to create an Alexa Skill is to host it on Amazon AWS, use AWS Lamba (a serverless computing platform), and then create the Lambda function in C#, Java, Javascript (Node.JS), or Python.

Yes, you can update and change skills. Depending on changes and updates, a Skill may need to be re-certified by Amazon (just like the Appstore Approval process). However, experience shows that it currently only takes a few days and not weeks or months.

Of course, we can also develop Alexa Skills for other countries. We have already developed skills for various countries and in various languages. We have developed skills for Germany, USA, U.K., India, Australia and Canada. We have developed skills in English, French and German. We also have various skill ideas that haven’t been released as yet but the test versions are already there. Please feel free to ask us for references.

Amazon has its own data privacy policy for Alexa. You will also need your own Data Privacy Policy for your Alexa Skills. We are happy to help you with our Data Privacy Partner Companies.

Our strength is that we are not a Tech-Only company but a Media-Tech company. We have the media expertise, can think in terms of target groups, touchpoints, user behavior, etc., and can help you with ideas and concepts for Alexa Skills.

Of course, based on an idea and scope, we could give the work estimate (cost and time) and resource estimate if necessary. Most of the time we can give you a price range and time range. Please feel free to ask us. You will immediately recognize our expertise and media experience.

Currently, we are focusing on the topic from the perspective of SEO, Voice Search Optimization, Smart Assistants and Smart Speakers. The more advanced the development of Voice Assistants, the more integrated use and networking of devices, touchpoints and media communication will be. With IoT (Internet of Things), SmartFridge or SmartCars and other hardware and software combinations, the classifications will be different.

Amazon offers the “Skills Metrics Dashboard” as part of the Alexa Skills Kit. Through this dashboard, we can see data on your skill about customers, sessions, comments and intentions. There are also some new third-party analytics tools (including Smartly.ai and Voice Insights) that offer different insights. The tools are subject to a fee and may be linked to further conditions.

Of course, an Alexa Skill can also be deactivated and deleted.

Alexa is the digital Voice Assistant from Amazon. Alexa can be used on smartphones and Amazon’s Echo product line. In the meantime, there are also various “third-party” devices and products in which the Alexa voice assistant is integrated.

The word “Alexa” was chosen because the “X” is easier for voice recognition to recognize and the word is also a tribute to the famous ancient library of Alexandria.

The technical details of Alexa are complex…but blueShepherd makes it simple and understandable for you.

After activation (see setup below), by simply saying “Alexa”, the service will start. Then Alexa starts (or tries) to interpret what you are saying. To complete your question/command, Alexa sends this recording over the Internet to Alexa’s cloud servers where AVS (Alexa Voice Service) is installed. The Alexa Voice service then converts your voice signals into computer language commands that you can use to perform a task (such as searching for a requested service or product) or it converts the computer language back into audio signals so that you get the information back in voice form.

If your Internet connection is working properly and Amazon’s back-end service is also working properly, responses can be provided as quickly as possible. With products like the Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, the answers are provided only in audio form. However, on Echo Show and to a limited extent on a smartphone, information is provided through on-screen displays in addition to audio. With an Alexa-enabled Amazon device, Alexa can also send commands to other compatible third-party devices.

Since the cloud-based Alexa Voice Service is required to answer questions and perform tasks, a connection to the Internet is required – no Internet, no Alexa interaction. This is where the Alexa app kicks in.

Users often wonder what exactly Bixby Capsules are and the answer is quite simple to formulate. Everyone knows the Google Play or Apple App Store where you can download applications for your smartphone.

Capsules are Samsung’s version of voice apps that can be used to run the respective applications. Developers of voice apps have the option to develop their own Samsung Bixby Capsules and make them available to users in the Samsung Bixby Marketplace. The Samsung Bixby Marketplace is comparable to the Apple App Store and is a place where you can download and install the published Bixby Capsules on your smart speaker or smart phone.

Bixby Capsules are available for almost every application area, such as entertainment, games, entertainment or news, and are constantly being expanded. Samsung’s Bixby Capsules are activated and operated using voice commands, giving you information about the weather or news, for example.

In 2017, Samsung Bixby was released and was initially on the two new smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 plus. But what exactly is Samsung Bixby? Samsung Bixby can best be compared with Amazon Alexa.

Just like Amazon’s Alexa, Bixby is Samsung’s smart Voice Assistant. This Digital Assistant can be controlled by voice and thus run any applications. The Voice Assistant Bixby developed by Samsung is not only limited to the voice sector, but is also used in connection with other Samsung devices such as fridges, smartwatches, microwaves and tablets in four areas.

The first category is Samsung Voice and represents the classic Voice Assistant, which is installed in Samsung smartphones, for example. Beyond that, however, there is Samsung Vision, an intelligent camera system, and Samsung Bixby Home. With Bixby Home, smart home applications such as the refrigerator or the watch machine can be controlled and managed. There is also the Bixby Reminder, a smart appointment system that helps you structure your calendar more effectively.

This makes the Bixby system versatile and tries to assert itself against its competitors like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Apple Siri.

The use of Google Bixby is free of charge, only the technical device has to be purchased.

Our smartphones have been getting smarter over the past few years, and providers such as Apple and Samsung are trying to simplify the use of the end devices. The Samsung Galaxy S10 introduced a feature called Samsung Routines that makes the use of Samsung smartphones much more efficient.

Samsung analyzes the user’s behavior and recognizes patterns of action. With the help of Samsung Routines, it is then possible to automate processes on the smartphone.

This means that you, as the user, determine which action the Samsung smartphone should perform for a specific situation.

With Samsung routines, they can then set the phone to automatically mute itself and lower the brightness from 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. The unique setting, which can be adjusted at any time in Samsung’s Bixby routines, saves time and makes your smartphone use more effective. Bixby Routines offers innumerable number of shortcuts and settings that can be made, based on the parameter like time of day, a location, the battery charge level, or status of the smartphone. Besides the option to set your own routines, there are also pre-installed Bixby routines from Samsung that you can easily activate.

The following link from Samsung explains how to apply the routines or set them yourself.Link: https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00083201/

Google Home is the smart speaker, i.e. the technical end device from Google that is equipped with Google Assistants, Google’s Voice Assistant. This smart speaker can be controlled by voice and helps you with everyday tasks like cooking, playing games with you or answering current knowledge questions.

In addition, Google offers a smart home solution with the Google Nest, i.e. Google’s smart home. With the help of the smart speakers and smart home compatible devices such as the heating, lamps or kitchen appliances, you can control your own home using voice. In connection with this, Google also offers the Google Nest Cam Outdoor, which is a home security system in conjunction with Google Assistant.

In our everyday lives, Voice Assistants like Google Assistant are being used in more and more categories. In order to be able to use Voice Assistants, so-called Voice Apps have to be developed, just like for smartphones. At Google, these Voice Apps are called Google Actions. How does Google Action Development works and which are the basic steps necessary for the development of a Google Action are noted in the following.

In total, there are four ways given by Google to create and then implement a Google Action.

Yes, because the first way is to enhance an already existing Google App from the Play Store as Action. In addition, you have the possibility to become more present with voice content within the Google Assistant world.

Thirdly, you have the chance to develop Google Actions for Google smart home devices, for example, to control the lights or rolling shutters. The last path one can take is to create an action from scratch, with no previous reference points.

To design a Google Action, you must first design the dialogue that the user will have with the Voice Assistant when using it. Subsequently, this development must be tested by Google Developers and is then approved for publication.

There are various ways people express themselves when they are looking for an agency/expert/company that develops Alexa applications (Alexa Skill). The keyword Alexa Agency also means Alexa Skill(s) Agency or Alexa Skill Deveopment Agency or Alexa Voice Agency. This means an Agency that deals with Voice Marketing and Voice Assistant topics. In addition to Alexa, there are also Google Assistant (from Google), Bixby (from Samsung), Siri (from Apple) and Cortana (from Microsoft) as Voice Assistants available in the market.

We, as blueShepherd GmbH, are specialists in the field of Voice Assistants. Voice Assistants are just one part of Voice Marketing. We advise customers when it comes to Alexa skills and have been involved since 2017 in the development of Alexa skills. We develop Alexa Skills not only for Germany, but we have already done Alexa Skill programming for U.K., USA, Canada, Australia and India. Our product portfolio includes from Alexa Skill consulting, Voice Assistant consulting to Alexa Skill Development.

The blueShepherd team has worked in the online marketing industry for over 15 years, managing Display Marketing activities including SEA & SEO measures and all pull as well as push activities. Of course, we can help you with Alexa Skill promotions. Wherever we have a strong partner in the network, we access them. We work with Kontor Digital Media as well as Lucky Shareman for various online marketing as well as influencer marketing activities. As a blueShepherd customer, you can benefit from special conditions, for example, if you get an Alexa Skill developed through blueShepherd the promotion runs through blueShepherd partner companies afterwards.

We have been through various Alexa Skill development processes so far. Depending on the idea and development effort, it is quite possible that Alexa Skill programming costs only a few thousand euros.

It depends on what they want to implement with an Alexa Skill. Basically, the specifications for Voice Assistant applications differ from Voice Assistant to Voice Assistant. E.g. A Flash briefing skill is relatively easy to create. In contrast, a Skill for Voice Commerce can be very complex.

The biggest difference is to what extent has your creative agency or programmer even dealt with Voice, Voice User Interface, Voice Assistant functionality, Developer Terms & Conditions. We have been dealing with the topic of Voice for a very long time. Furthermore, we know Search, Search Behavior, Pull Marketing, User Journey topics very well. This helps us with consulting, planning, Alexa Skill design or voice application design, as well as programming and certification. A normal web or mobile app programmer without knowledge of different smart speaker functionalities, voice workflow know-how and voice user interface experience cannot simply program an Alexa Skill or a Google Action.

If you have a very good idea that is user-centric and should be implemented as a voice marketing application as an Alexa Skill and or Google Action and or Bixby Capsule, feel free to talk to us. Your idea and our implementation could be a basis for a Revenue Sharing Model,where you don’t pay us for the Alexa Skill programming. This means that Alexa Skill programming is completely free of charge for you and we finance the effort through a mutually agreed business model based on Revenue Share.

We have Daily Wins Alexa Skill (www.daily-wins.com) as a Voice-Sweepstake. The Voice Marketing product is unique and available worldwide for the first time.

We have Daily Samples Alexa Skill (www.daily-samples.com) as Voice Order of Freebies, Trial Packs, Sample Orders etc. This Voice Marketing product is available in several countries.

All blueShepherd products can also be used as white-lable products. Talk to us about this. Of course, we are interested in making the Voice Marketing world even more attractive and reachable.

Voice marketing is the strategy and tactics you use to reach your target audience through voice, voice-controlled devices, voice applications, which are for the most part supported by voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri. It includes voice branding, recorded audio content such as podcasts and flash briefing, and voice search optimization. An evolution of SEO, voice search marketing or VSO involves strategies with which brands optimize their content in order to be found through voice search. We will also see voice newsletters or voice sweepstakes or voice networking etc. in the coming years. Topics that will redefine the Voice Marketing boundaries. Voice Assistant Marketing or Marketing through Voice Assistant applications is just one part of Voice Marketing.

Voice Search Optimization (VSO) or Voice Search is the voice-based search query on the network, corresponding applications and especially for this purpose designed voice devices. Voice Search SEO refers to the optimization of content for voice search so that it is read out preferentially by Voice Assistants to relevant questions. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) still has “tip search” as its focus. This can be text search, image search or shopping search…but all through typing.

Yes, we are a Voice Marketing Agency. The future has arrived. As the Digital Universe evolves, so must the ways in which we enter and interact with it. Technologies like Google Home, Samsung Galaxy Home, and Amazon Echo, which were curiosities just a few years ago, are now used and trusted by tens of millions of people around the world. Our confidence in these high-performance smart speakers will continue to grow, making the development of voice applications vital for an organization’s future.

Not only a positive voice interaction with a brand creates a deeper connection in the moment, but over time these touchpoints will generate a wealth of data. As your strategic partner, we use voice applications to help you capture and analyze this data for a better understanding of how your audience connects with you. Then we take steps to strengthen your relationship with your consumers while increasing your competitive advantage. We are happy to provide consulting for an appropriate voice strategy for your brand and proactively inform you about voice trends.

There are various ways people express themselves when you are looking for an agency/expert/company for the Bixby applications (Bixby Capsule). By Bixby Agency it also means Bixby Capsule(s) Agency or Bixby Capsule Development Agency or Bixby Voice Agency. This means an agency that deals with voice marketing and voice assistants. Besides Bixby, there are also Google Assistant (from Google), Alexa (from Amazon), Siri (from Apple) and Cortana (from Microsoft) as Voice Assistants on the market.

We, blueShepherd GmbH, are specialists in the field of Voice Assistants. Voice assistants are just one part of Voice Marketing. We advise customers when it comes to Bixby Capsule. Since 2017 we’ve been involved with Voice Assistant applications (e.g. Alexa Skill) development. We develop Alexa Skills not only for Germany, but we have already done Alexa Skill programming for U.K., USA, Canada, Australia and India. Bixby Capsule development capabilities have only been available since H2-2019. Our product portfolio includes from Bixby Capsule consulting, Voice Assistant consulting to Bixby Capsule Development.

Go to the Skills section of your Alexa app and search for “Daily Wins”. Then you just need to activate the “Daily Wins” skill on the overview page. You can also activate the Daily Wins Alexa Skill on your local Amazon website by entering the name “Daily Wins” and then installing the skill.

You can use the Alexa “Daily Wins” skill to enter attractive sweepstakes with great prizes just by voice command. You don’t have to type, click or do anything with your hand. To participate, all you need is your Voice.

We are initially making the Daily Wins Alexa Skill available in Germany, UK, USA, India, Canada and Australia. More countries to follow soon.

When you speak to Alexa, a recording of the question you ask is sent to Amazon’s server so that its speech recognition and natural language understanding systems can process and respond to your request.

When you use the Alexa Skill “Daily Wins”, Amazon exchanges certain information in text form with Daily Wins, but not the actual voice recording. This may include, for example, the content of the question or command (e.g., the query regarding a specific sweepstakes category or brand) or information you have agreed to provide (e.g., the mailing address of your Echo device if you use it for the Daily Wins Skill.). Based on the information provided by Amazon, the Daily Wins skill searches for the required answer and sends it back to Amazon in text form. Alexa will then read you the answer.

You can participate only once in all Sweepstakes. This is because most sweepstakes only allow one entry per email address for that particular sweepstake. If you enter a sweepstake more than once, duplicate entries will be removed automatically. Therefore, if you enter a Sweepstake more than once it will not increase your chances of winning.

There is absolutely no limit to how many sweepstakes you can participate in per day.

Just ask the Alexa Skill Daily Wins for sweepstakes, by brand name or category. For example, you can say, “Alexa, ask Daily Wins for sweepstakes from Pepsi” or “Alexa, do you have Sweepstakes in the Lifestyle category”? Alternatively, you can simply say “Alexa, I want to win” and Alexa will guide you through the process.

No, once you have participated, your willingness to participate will be immediately communicated to the sponsor / advertiser. If you really want to ensure that your participation is revoked, you must contact the sponsor / advertiser directly. Information about the sponsor / advertiser can be found in the email you received from us after successful participation.

Each state has its own rules for sweepstakes, which occasionally makes it more difficult for a sponsor to offer promotions in a particular city/state.

It is possible that the sweepstakes sponsor only wants participants from a certain zip code, city or state to enter his/her sweepstakes. By default, you will always receive the sweepstakes valid for your zip code.

Yes, you can change your zip code or other data in your account through www.daily-wins.com. The changed information is valid immediately. In fact, you should keep your data up to date to comply with the terms and conditions of our website Alexa and in some cases of the sponsor / advertiser of the sweepstakes.

No. You must be over 18 years old to use the Daily Wins Alexa Skill.

Participation in a sweepstakes based on the Daily Wins Alexa Skill (a product of blueShepherd GmbH) is completely voluntary and free of charge.

You will be contacted directly by the organizer / advertiser of the sweepstakes. Each time you enter the Daily Wins sweepstakes, you will receive an email with additional information provided to us by the sweepstakes organizer/advertiser.

We are only a platform / intermediary between the user and the partner company / sponsor / advertiser. We try our best to provide as many sweepstakes as possible so that you have as many brands and sweepstakes as possible that you love. You can write to such brands / companies directly to let them know that it would be good for them to be available on the Daily Wins Alexa Skill.

Yes, you can deactivate the Daily Wins Alexa Skill at any time. There are no restrictions whatsoever. Once you have deactivated the skills, which you will surely regret, you will receive a confirmation email. Please note that you will not be able to enter sweepstakes offered by Daily Wins unless you reactivate the Daily Wins Alexa Skill.

No, I’m afraid not. Daily Wins sweepstakes will only be offered through Alexa Skill. This may change in the future.

You do not need a smart speaker. You can download the Alexa app and still enter the Sweepstakes.

It depends on the sweepstakes and the sponsors. For more information, please refer to the email you received after entering a sweepstakes.

Yes, if you choose to use the services provided by www.daily-wins.com and Daily Wins Alexa Skill, you must keep your data up to date. This can be done online.

No, you do not need to create a new Daily Wins account. You can continue to use the existing account. As long as you use the same email address in your Alexa app and sign up for Daily Wins registration, you can use Alexa’s Daily Wins skill.