What is a Digital Assistant?

It is a voice assistant or a predictive chatbot that is programmed in such a manner that it can answer the queries of the user or can perform certain simple tasks. It is an advanced program that allows the user to simulate communication between the user and the system; the system should have an internet connection to perform these functions properly.

A digital assistant applies various advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, natural language processing and understanding, and various machine learning algorithms to automate the software. Initially, the digital assistant is fed with information to perform various functions, but it also can learn from experience. The digital assistants can be personalized by analyzing the user's historical information, such as the personal details of the user, frequent searches, purchase preferences, or user interests.

The application can even answer complex queries and provide useful recommendations using all the above information. The machine learning algorithms enable the application to improvise by creating various new data models. The responsibility of the new data model is to identify the behavior of the present user and provide services according to it. It increases the efficiency of the digital assistant. 

There are various digital assistants that we use today. Some popular digital assistants are Google Assistant, which android users use. iOS users have Siri. Cortana is a digital assistant that is developed for Windows operating systems. Smart speakers such as Alexa are also an example of digital assistants.

Difference Between a Voice Assistant and a Chatbot

A chatbot is a comparatively similar program that can understand and respond to written or spoken conversations. It allows the person to communicate so that it seems that they are having a conversation with an actual person, but it only allows the user to perform simple conversations. There is a limitation to the queries they can answer and the function they perform.

For example, when you call a pizza outlet, your call is answered by a robotic voice that is a chatbot; it is responsible for instructing the user to order the pizza. The conversation required to place an order is called a simple conversation. Any other query that will be outside the domain of the chatbot will not be answered.

While a digital assistant is an advanced chatbot, which means that it is a chatbot with a wider domain and can handle more complex conversations such as making a train reservation, the user can provide a detailed description of the reservations, such as what should be the arrival time, seating preference, adding food. The user can also decide the transportation from the railway station and manage that with a single assistant.

The digital assistant will be required to go through various resources to perform all these functions. It is impossible to refer to numerous resources to perform a single task with a chatbot.

For easy understanding, it can be said that every digital assistant is also a chatbot, just a bit more complex, but not every chatbot is a digital assistant.

Functions Performed by a Digital Assistant

1. The famous digital assistants that can be accessed from your iOS and Android devices, such as Siri and Google Assistant, can answer numerous user queries. They can also recommend various activities and interests based on the user's previous searches. They can also automate certain tasks such as sending simple messages to the contact or dialing a phone number.

Also, they can perform complex tasks based on your routine, such as redirect you to a less congested road to reach your destination. The idea behind the intelligent home is to use this digital assistant to perform tasks such as regulating the house's temperature depending upon the time you will reach your place. If the user is leaving home for several days, it can also predict the temperature conditions of the destinations so that he can plan accordingly. The user can also use them to remotely access the home's smart devices, such as air conditioners or geysers.

2. They are not only useful at home but have various uses in the business as well. They provide a single platform to perform all the communication between a buyer and seller. A single platform makes it easier for the buyer to answer all the users from one place. Thus, increasing the effectiveness of the business. They are extensively used in customer contact centers to manage the incoming traffic and ensure that no queries go unanswered.

3. They are used to enhance the user service experience by automating certain processes. Using digital assistants to automate these tasks enables multiple users to use the service simultaneously. The user can automate simple tasks on the application using these digital assistants. It can be used to change the existing password and perform system checkups, and if there is an update, it can also update the system itself. It can also send alerts and notifications to the user. All these services can be done by the assistant and made available for the entire day.

4. The tasks performed by the digital assistant largely vary with the technology and the design of the assistant. The more complex the technology used, the more complex task it can perform. The quality of the natural language and Artificial Intelligence determines the services provided by the assistant.

Some of the functions performed by these assistants are:

5. In the IT industry, they are not only used for providing user services, but they can also automate certain processes that follow a procedure, such as resolving informational and transaction requests.

6. They are used to notify the users and send reminders to the employee about the scheduled tasks.

7. They can answer complex queries of the users that have multiple questions incorporated into a single one. To answer such queries, the assistant requires using multiple sources to meet all the user's requirements.

8. They can also be aligned with a business model, and a single assistant can interact with numerous business systems. They can be used to automate the process of sales, customer services, and marketing.

9. Some digital assistants can simultaneously manage the roles of a chatbot and an agent.

Devices that use Digital Assistant

In modern times, various devices have preinstalled digital assistant software. They are added to the device to enhance the functionality of these devices by making the device more user-friendly. It increases the capabilities of these devices and improves certain features such as voice recognition and recommendation systems. The devices with digital assistants are considered more reliable than those without them. Common devices with digital assistants are smartphones, laptops, computers, Macs, and tablets. Certain household equipment is also compatible with digital assistants; these include washing machines, air conditioners, set-up boxes, etc. With the introduction of autopilot cars, these assistants are also extensively used in automobiles.

Benefits of Using Digital Assistant

We have discussed various places that use digital assistants and the tasks performed by the assistant. Let’s discuss the advantages of using digital assistants to perform those tasks.

• They are convenient to use even by a single user: They can be used for personal use, such as for managing the house's temperature or for managing the home security system.

• They offer better assistance: They improve the efficiency of performing business as they can be programmed to automate various tasks such as placing orders and providing customer service simultaneously.
• Offer more services: It enables the businessman to offer more services. It makes the management process simple and effective, from acting as a simple chatbot to answer user queries to playing the role of a live agent. The assistant can alone manage these tasks.
• Save Money: It can perform multiple tasks effectively, which reduces the need for actual employees. They can perform the task without requiring any break. They can effectively reduce the efforts required to perform redundant tasks. They can be used to increase productivity by automating the most trivial tasks performed every day.
• Better Service: It is easier to perform and learn through an actual conversation than reading numerous manual pages. Customers always prefer personal one-to-one conversations. One-to-one conversation is not always possible as no one can be available 24X7. We can use digital assistants to overcome this hurdle as they can provide these services around the clock.
• Avoid Mistakes: They use a computerized schedule. A user can schedule all the tasks in the calendar, and the digital assistant will send timely reminders to perform the tasks. They can also be used to predict upcoming events. For example, it can instruct an employee to submit the reports before the upcoming deadlines.
• Can be easily scaled: The digital assistant can be made more personalized. It can act more like a human using various advanced technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. They can be used simultaneously to answer the queries of multiple users.
• Constantly Learning: The digital assistant can store the experience and utilize it to improve the user experience. They do so by gathering real-life insights and using them to build various data models. The idea is about better understanding the user's interest and providing services according to it.
• Zero-Effort Access: The best part about using a digital assistant is no additional requirements. The user is not required to install multiple new applications. Various devices have embedded digital assistants.

The digital assistant does not require any new technology and can be easily developed by using the existing software such as:

1. The user can use popular messaging applications with the digital assistant. These applications include Facebook messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, and many others.  
2. They can be used in various web portals.
3. Many companies have developed specialized hardware devices for voice assistance, such as Amazon Echo.

Future of Digital Assistant

The field of advanced technologies is rapidly increasing; numerous developments and research are being conducted in machine learning and artificial intelligence, all with an aim to provide the machines the capability to experience and learn. With all the latest developments in the mentioned fields, digital assistants are also destined to be smarter and more advanced.

The idea behind the digital assistant is to provide the services performed by an actual human. For now, the role of a digital assistant is limited to automating small tasks and performing simple communications. Still, with growing technologies, the assistant will be able to answer complex queries, perform natural communication with humans, and can offer a suggestion to the user. They will be able to use high-quality video conferencing with the increase in data transmission speed.

They will be used more widely; the user will be able to use them effectively at the home workplace. This will save both human time and effort. There is a possibility that the digital assistant may possess certain human qualities such as creativity in the future. This will enable the user to deploy digital assistants in more rigorous environments where they can perform more complex activities and help in developing strategies.