Voice Commerce: The Next Big Shift in Online Shopping

The way we shop online is evolving—again. After the rise of mobile commerce and one-click checkouts, a new era is taking shape: voice commerce. Driven by smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, this hands-free shopping method is quickly gaining momentum. For ecommerce brands looking to stay ahead, understanding and embracing this ecommerce innovation is no longer optional—it’s strategic.

In this post, we explore what voice commerce is, why it matters, and how your business can prepare for this next major shift in digital retail.

What Is Voice Commerce?

Voice commerce refers to the use of voice-enabled devices and smart assistants to browse, research, and purchase products online. Instead of clicking or tapping, users speak commands like:

• “Alexa, order paper towels.”
• “Hey Google, add running shoes to my cart.”
• “Siri, find the best wireless earbuds under £100.”

These voice requests tap into ecommerce platforms, search engines, and app integrations to complete transactions or gather product information.

The Rise of Smart Assistants in Everyday Life

Smart speakers and voice-enabled devices have become household staples. According to Statista, over 320 million smart speakers are in use worldwide—and the number is climbing.

Popular Voice Platforms:

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• Apple Siri
• Samsung Bixby
• Microsoft Cortana (limited use but still relevant in enterprise)

Each of these platforms is integrated with ecommerce ecosystems and supports tasks like reordering products, checking delivery status, or comparing prices.

Why Voice Shopping Is Gaining Ground

The momentum behind voice commerce is fuelled by several converging trends:

1. Convenience

Voice allows for faster, hands-free interactions—perfect for multitasking, driving, or cooking.

2. Speed

It’s often quicker to say “Reorder protein powder” than to navigate through a website.

3. Accessibility

Voice makes online shopping easier for users with visual impairments or limited mobility.

4. Personalisation

Smart assistants remember past preferences, enabling frictionless repeat purchases.

What Can Be Bought Through Voice?

While not all product categories perform equally in voice commerce, several have shown strong adoption:

High-ticket or highly visual items (like furniture or formalwear) are still mostly researched by voice but purchased via traditional methods.

How Voice Commerce Works (Simplified Flow)

1. User speaks a command: “Alexa, buy dog food.”
2. Smart assistant interprets intent: Recognises product type and preferences.
3. Product match: Connects to ecommerce store, marketplace, or prior purchase history.
4. Confirmation: Assistant asks for user confirmation.
5. Transaction completed: Payment is processed using stored credentials.

Behind the scenes, APIs, search engines, voice commerce platforms, and customer data work together to make this seamless.

Voice Search vs Voice Commerce

While related, voice search and voice commerce serve different purposes.

• Voice search: Finding information (“What are the best headphones for running?”)
• Voice commerce: Completing transactions (“Order Bose Sport Earbuds.”)

Ecommerce innovation lies in connecting both—guiding users from voice-driven discovery to checkout.

Preparing Your Ecommerce Store for Voice Commerce

To benefit from voice-driven sales, businesses must adapt their content, structure, and integrations.

1. Optimise for Voice SEO

Voice queries are longer and more conversational. Focus on:

• Long-tail keywords
• Natural language (use FAQ formats)
• Featured snippets and schema markup
• Localised content (“best running shoes near me”)

2. Integrate with Voice-Enabled Platforms

Make your products accessible via:

• Amazon Alexa Skills (for Amazon sellers or Shopify integrations)
• Google Shopping Actions
• Voiceflow, Bespoken, or Jovo (for building custom voice apps)

3. Structure Data for Smart Assistants

Use product schema, rich metadata, and inventory feeds to help voice engines surface your products effectively.

4. Enable Seamless Reordering

Make it easy for returning customers to use voice for repeat purchases. Offer stored payment methods and personalised product suggestions.

Benefits of Embracing Voice Commerce

Challenges to Consider

1. Limited Visual Context

Without screens, brands must focus on strong product names, clear descriptions, and trust-building.

2. Platform Dependency

Voice commerce often routes through tech giants like Amazon or Google, limiting branding opportunities.

3. Privacy Concerns

Some customers are hesitant to shop via voice due to data and microphone privacy worries.

4. Accuracy of Recognition

Misinterpretations can lead to frustration or incorrect purchases. This is improving but still an issue.

Brands Leading the Voice Shopping Revolution

Domino’s

Customers can reorder favourite meals using Alexa or Google Assistant.

Ocado (UK)

Supports voice-enabled grocery shopping via Google Assistant for fast list-building.

Sephora

Uses voice search for beauty tips and product discovery via Google Home.

Walmart

Offers Walmart Voice Order via Google Assistant for recurring grocery items.

These brands show that voice commerce isn’t experimental—it’s here and already delivering results.

Voice Commerce and the Future of Personalisation

One of voice commerce’s biggest strengths is its ability to personalise. Smart assistants learn from:

• Purchase history
• Search habits
• Device location
• Time of day and user routines

This means ecommerce brands can deliver increasingly tailored recommendations, reorder prompts, or exclusive offers—all delivered via voice.

Get Started

Audit Your Content

Update product pages with voice-friendly language. Convert product FAQs into conversational Q&As.

Enable Voice Integration

Use platforms like Voiceflow or Alexa for Business to create voice-enabled experiences.

Start Small

Begin with voice search optimisation, then expand to voice ordering for bestsellers or subscription products.

Measure Performance

Track engagement, repeat usage, and voice-triggered conversions. Use Google Search Console and voice assistant analytics tools.

The Future of Voice Shopping

As natural language processing (NLP) and AI improve, expect:

• Context-aware voice shopping (“Buy the last shoes I looked at”)
• Multimodal interfaces (voice + visual on devices like Echo Show)
• Integrated checkout across platforms and devices
• Personal voice commerce agents that manage shopping for you

In this future, ecommerce brands must speak clearly—literally.

Key Takeaway

Voice commerce is not just another trend—it’s a powerful shift in how consumers interact with technology and make purchasing decisions. As more shoppers adopt smart assistants, businesses that embrace voice shopping will be better positioned to meet customer needs through convenience, speed, and personalisation.

Speak to Be Heard

Ecommerce has always been about convenience. Voice commerce takes that to its logical next step: letting people shop with nothing but their voice. For brands that want to stay ahead of the curve, investing in ecommerce innovation like voice technology isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

So prepare your store, optimise your content, and start listening—because your next customer might just be speaking.