Media releases
Westpac taps into voice technology with Amazon Alexa Skill
18 January, 2018
Westpac introduces new Westpac Banking Skill to offer the latest digital experience for customers
Westpac customers can now access their account balance, recent spending history, and reward points status with Alexa, Amazon’s newly-launched voice service that connects you to music, your smart home devices, and now your personal finances.
Westpac’s Digital Labs team worked in conjunction with Amazon to build the new cloud-based Westpac Banking Skill with a range of functionality that will grow over time.
With Alexa, Westpac customers who have enabled the skill and linked to their Westpac account can ask a range of questions relating to their account balance and last 50 transactions, for example:
- Customer question: “Alexa, ask Westpac how much money I have in my savings account.”
- Alexa’s response: “You have $3,450 in your Westpac eSaver.”
A Westpac financial markets update will also be available via a flash briefing for Alexa, which allows customers to include the financial news in their daily news updates. Just select Finance News from Westpac via the Alexa app and then ask, “Alexa, what’s the news?”
George Frazis, Chief Executive, Consumer Bank said: “We know our customers want a seamless banking experience that fits with their needs and complements their lifestyles.
“As more people adopt innovative voice-activated technologies in an increasingly mobile world, we are excited to be one of the leaders in this space providing secure, easy to use, cutting edge banking services for our customers.”
Rob Pulciani, Director, Amazon Alexa said: “Alexa can help make many daily tasks simpler, including things like checking your bank account, getting news, and more. We’re excited that Westpac is bringing banking capabilities for Alexa to customers in Australia.”
The Westpac Banking Skill on Alexa is underpinned by the Westpac Live secure online banking platform. Currently, customers cannot transfer funds or make a payment via the Westpac Banking Skill for Alexa.
To find out more visit www.westpac.com.au/alexa
About Alexa
Alexa is Amazon’s cloud-based voice service and provides capabilities, or skills, allowing users to create a more personalised experience. Alexa can help with thousands of things, including music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, and other real-time information, such as news. Alexa can also allow customers to control many smart home devices using just their voice. Westpac will have a skill available for Alexa starting on Alexa’s Australian launch date.