DSNews delivers stories, ideas, links, companies, people, events, and videos impacting the mortgage default servicing industry.
Issue link: http://digital.dsnews.com/i/1109050
64 I N D U S T R Y I N S I G H T / S E A N M I L L E R Forty-seven million. at's how many people have virtual assistants in the form of a smart speaker in their homes, according to an article in TechCrunch. at's 20 percent of U.S. households, and this rate of adoption has occurred in less than four years. A survey from NPR and Edison Research found that smart speakers are even replacing much of the time spent on smartphones, and the devices aren't just a gimmick. e survey also revealed that 65 percent of respondents weren't sure how they ever lived without the devices. Why this mass adoption of smart devices? For one, voice assistants are just plain cool. (A decade or two ago, who would have ever imagined that you'd be able to order toilet paper online with just your voice?) But there is also a practical side to voice assistants, as they are a more convenient and natural way to search for things, set timers, or control your smart home. With just a simple command, you can adjust your thermostat, unlock your front door, turn your lights on or off, or simply check the weather. For all of these reasons, millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers all love them, and this type of technology is expected to continue its strong growth throughout our households. STAYING ON TOP Digital personal assistants are undeniably useful, and when combined with other forms of smart home technology, they provide even more functions to make renters' lives easier. For instance, if tenants need work done on the home, they can use smart home technology to let the maintenance worker in remotely while they're away at work. No more taking a day off work just to be home when the plumber arrives. Better yet, the technology can automatically let in only the right person at the right time, so renters don't need to give a key to the baby- sitter, the dog walker, the housekeeper, and the neighbor who waters the plants when the resident is out of town. But what if users forget how to put in a re- quest for the work order in the first place? e virtual assistant can easily remind them of the phone number to call or the website to visit in order to schedule what is needed. at not only GET SMART