Amazon’s Alexa is moving in at the National Australia Bank. The bank yesterday revealed plans from next month to integrate Alexa with its home services, allowing customers to ask the voice-activated assistant certain questions about their bank account.
“As a bank, we think the opportunity for our customers to be able to use those services is just a natural evolution of the use of digital channels,” said NAB Labs chief Jonathan Davey, pictured, announcing the plan. The latest move follows NAB’s October launch of its voice-activated “Talk to NAB” offering which allows customers to use their phone to ask questions such as how to replace a lost card or reset their password.
After Amazon Alexa becomes available in Australia next month, NAB customers will be able to ask their Echo device similar questions about their bank account, according to Davey.
Other companies in Australia turning to Alexa as a channel for voice services include real estate outfit REA, mobile phone flogger Amaysim and online services marketplace Airtasker. A major advantage for such companies: no human has to answer those pesky customer phone calls.
