Online retailer partners with Google to allow Australian consumers to purchase gifts using voice assistant
EBay has teamed up with Google’s AI-powered virtual assistant to allow Australian consumers to buy directly from their Google Home and Android smartphone in time for Christmas.
Under the new partnership, which officially launched on 29 November, consumers can search eBay’s catalogue of 60 million listings by prefacing their request to Google Home or a compatible Android smartphone with ‘Ask eBay’ or ‘Talk to eBay’. The online marketplace claimed it’s one of the first brands to take advantage of multi-surface switching capability, meaning users can carry a voice conversation on Google Assistant over to their phone and complete a purchase.
It’s also launched a new ‘What’s it worth’ function, which gives shoppers the ability to ask what something is worth on eBay.The capabilities take advantage of Google's artificial intelligence (AI) powered voice assistant.
EBay managing director of A/NZ markets, Tim MacKinnon, said the intention was to make shopping as straightforward as having a conversation.
“EBay has a long history of being the first to market with new innovations here in Australia, and our latest collaboration with Google is no exception,” he said. “EBay built this technology from the ground up and it’s the perfect example of how artificial intelligence is helping to make a truly personalised shopping experience.”
According to MacKinnon, multi-switching was made possible through the accumulation of unstructured data around Australian shopping.
“We are looking at the future of retail here, and we are excited to be at the early stages of this new commerce frontier,” he said.
MacKinnon also noted 80 of Australia’s 100 largest retailers are now represented on eBay, including Myer and Woolworths.
“This partnership expands our technological capabilities to provide even greater access for consumers,” he added.
Google launched its voice-powered Home speaker in Australia in July this year, nine months after its debut in the US. Among the list of compatible apps and products for the unit are Google Chromecast, the brand’s wireless video streaming dongle; Philips’ Hue smarthome offering; Wiz LED and Osram smartlight bulbs; Samsung’s SmartThings Hub; Hive thermostats; and appliances such as GE’s washing machine.
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia, or check us out on Google+:google.com/+CmoAu
In the third and final episode of our 3-part CMO50 video series exploring modern marketing and why it’s become a matter of trust, we’re delighted to be joined by Telstra’s former CMO and now digital services and sales executive, Jeremy Nicholas, and Adobe VP Marketing Asia-Pacific and Japan, Duncan Egan.
Flash back to the classic film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Television-obsessed Mike insists on becoming the first person to be ‘sent by Wonkavision’, dematerialising on one end, pixel by pixel, and materialising in another space. His cinematic dreams are realised thanks to rash decisions as he is shrunken down to fit the digital universe, followed by a trip to the taffy puller to return to normal size.
Why is it there is no shortage of leadership development materials, yet outstanding leadership is so rare? Despite having access to so many leadership principles, tools, systems and processes, why is it so hard to develop and improve as a leader?
As a nation united by sport, brands are beginning to learn money alone won’t talk without aligned values and action. If recent events with major leagues and their players have shown us anything, it’s the next generation of athletes are standing by what they believe in – and they won’t let their values be superseded by money.
