Packaging That Talks? It’s No Longer Sci-Fi
For example, imagine if you pick up a box of cereal and instead of having to squint to see the microscopic instructions, you simply ask the box, “What are the ingredients?” and it answers. Welcome to the world of voice-activated packaging! This is a groundbreaking new idea that combines speech interfaces powered by artificial intelligence with packaging technology. This is changing the way people interact with products since it makes them easier to access, customize, and engage with. Voice-responsive packaging might make regular shopping smarter and easier for a larger variety of customers, such as individuals who are blind, parents who are doing more than one thing at once, and elderly people.
A Reason Why Voice Is Becoming an Important Part of Packaging
Speech technology has found its way into millions of households without causing any problems because of the rise of smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. The next step is to package. CMI’s digital insights show that searches for “voice-enabled packaging,” “AI audio packaging,” and “talking product labels” have gone up by 61% year over year, especially in the health, food, and cosmetics sectors. More and more firms are realizing that consumers want packaging that interacts with them and gives them real-time information, help, and even entertainment. Customers desire packaging that is more than just pretty.
The way Voice-Activated Packaging Works:
Voice-activated packaging uses embedded NFC chips, QR codes, or Bluetooth-enabled sensors that are connected to AI-based speech systems. These packages may deliver audio responses that are customized to the product as soon as they are turned on, whether it’s via a smart speaker, an app, or a smartphone. Amazon Polly, Google Cloud Text-to-Speech, and IBM Watson Text-to-Speech are examples of artificial intelligence engines that can provide responses that are aware of the situation and seem natural. A juice bottle may now read out its nutritional information, and a prescription box can now provide dosing guidelines in the language that the consumer desires. This technology makes both of these things possible.
A Huge Step Forward For Those Who Can’t See Well Access
Voice packaging has many helpful applications, but one of the most important is that it makes things easier to get to. Reading small lettering, expiry dates, or dosage requirements might be hard or even dangerous for people who can’t see well. Voice-activated packaging provides these people greater power since it delivers them information that is faster, more accurate, and easier to understand than regular packaging. Brands like Kellogg’s and Procter & Gamble have previously released packaging that works with smart assistants or apps like NaviLens. The packaging is intended to make information easy to find. It shows ethical design and is also open to everyone.
Pharma and Healthcare: Making Sure That Voice Guarantees Safety:
One big difficulty in the healthcare and pharmaceutical businesses is giving people the wrong medications because the instructions are unclear or the labels are missing. Voice-activated packaging makes these risks less likely to happen, but not by much. Customers may get verified instructions, allergy warnings, and reminders to take their medicine with only a voice prompt. Companies including GSK, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson are looking at the idea of employing voice-activated packaging for dangerous drugs and products for aged care. This project aims to improve adherence, cut down on errors, and make things easier for both patients and caregivers.
Making Shopping Better For Customers, Whether They Are in a Store or Online
Voice-responsive packaging adds a new level to the brand’s story and lets the buyer become involved. Think about a chocolate bar that tells you where it comes from or a skin care product that shows you how to use it step by step. Artificial intelligence-powered audio interactions provide an immersive experience that is especially helpful in e-commerce, where physical touch is less prevalent. L’Oréal and Estée Lauder are two of the many cosmetics businesses that are working on packaging that, when scanned, gives you education about the product, how to use it, or a breakdown of its parts. These voice traits not only serve a utilitarian purpose, but they also help people connect on an emotional level.
The Help of Global and Multilingual Consumer Bases
Another big advantage of using an AI voice is that it can understand more than one language. Depending on the user’s settings or where they are, packaging may now “speak” in several languages. This is very helpful in markets that are quite different from each other, as most of the time, clients may not speak the language that is stated on the label as the main language. AI models can automatically detect and swap languages, which means that everyone can read the directions, ingredients, and safety information. If a company is expanding into other countries, it could utilize this to its advantage to make sure it follows the rules and connects better with local audiences.
The Benefits Of Being Sustainable: Less Printing, More Talking
Voice packaging is another way to help people try to be more environmentally friendly. Businesses may cut down on the quantity of paper and ink they waste by printing less, using fewer inserts, and using fewer secondary labels. Interactive speech technology lets people get all the information they need digitally or vocally, and it only needs a small quantity of physical material. Some organizations that care about the environment, including The Body Shop and Method, are looking into speech features as a way to combine digital innovation with being eco-friendly. This would let people talk to one another in a smart way that doesn’t utilize paper and also cut down on their carbon impact.
The Chance To Sell In The Future With Data And Customisation
Voice-activated packaging opens up new ways to gather data and sell to people. It is feasible to record and analyze every communication anonymously to get a better idea of what customers want, what languages they speak, and what questions they ask most often. After that, AI systems may provide more detailed answers or suggest comparable items. One example is a shampoo pack that would advise a conditioner that goes well with the shampoo based on what you have said in the past. Startups like TalkinThings, Blue Bite, and Zappar are making these things feasible by adding artificial intelligence to their NFC packaging technology.
The Things That Need To Be Fixed Are Privacy, Cost, And Adoption
Voice-activated packaging has a lot of potential, but it still has some problems to solve. Privacy issues are still a big concern, especially when connecting to personal devices or voice assistants that are housed on the cloud. It will be very important to make sure that both the GDPR and the CCPA are followed. Another thing that may make smaller businesses less likely to use voice technology is the cost of adding it, which might include processors, sensors, and backend infrastructure. It will also take some time to educate customers and change their habits. Adoption is expected to speed up in all fields, however, as costs keep going down and voice usage keeps going up.
Companies and Innovators that Are Leading the Way in Their Industry:
A number of companies, including the ones listed below, are already working on voice packaging:
- Kellogg’s has teamed up with NaviLens to make cereal boxes that can be read by voice and are easy to get to.
- GSK tried out smart inhaler packaging that came with voice-activated instructions.
- TalkinThings is working on AI-powered packaging solutions for firms that sell consumer packaged products. Unilever is looking at the usage of voice as part of its efforts to encourage ethical sourcing and product transparency.
These early adopters illustrate how voice technology can be both helpful and good for a company.
Final thoughts:
Voice-activated packaging is changing how people interact with products by making experiences more intuitive, informative, and welcoming. Giving packaging its own voice is how this is done. This discovery, which uses artificial intelligence, blends smart technology with human needs. It has benefits that go beyond being new. CMI’s trend tracking shows that voice technology is not just the future of smart homes but also the future of smart packaging. Now is the time to stand out if you’re a forward-thinking company that wants to build trust, make things easier to find, and get more people to interact with your brand. Or, more correctly, let your packaging do the talking.
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