Voice activated inventory: Unique or Obsolete?

Image from AccuTrakInventory.com

Data collection 101

There are numerous ways of collecting data in retail inventories. Each way has some degree of effectiveness and level of application. The oldest data collection system was the paper-pencil. It was not a very convenient medium to record data and information, but despite the advancement of technology in the 21st century, some businesses still very comfortable using the paper-based system.

The coming of computer age in the 1930's until to this very moment, made computers both as the front-end and back-end for data collection and processing possible. Using a wide variety data entry devices such as keyboards or keypads, pointing devices, touchscreen technology, etc. made inventory and data collection becomes more efficient.

A typical barcode

In 1960, the first prototype of LASER (Light Amplification by the Simulated Emission of Radiation) was invented. Today laser technology has become a medium for data collection by enabling to caputure barcoded information widely used by retailers and manufacturers in their supply chain. Because of its high demand and wide applications, barcode scanning and data-entry are the de facto standard in data collection among retailers in their inventory systems.

Although the earliest prototype of wireless application was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1908, wireless network becomes publicly possible only in 1994 when Carnegie Mellon University successfully configured the first wireless internet network available. Now, IEEE 802.11 becomes the standard of carrying out wireless data communications. The standard uses radio wave frequency as modes for data collection, processing, and communication. Among the chief benefits of wireless data collection is the emerging RFID technology.  

But there is one more method of data collection that many of us have not known, but less advanced than RFID is Voice activated data collection.


What is voice recognition inventory and how it works

The first successful speech recognition method, which converts spoken words into text was the IBM Shoebox exhibited at the 1964 New York World's Fair. The application was originally used in the healthcare, then the military, air traffic controllers, and people with disabilities. Numerous improvements in language modelling and voice algorithms have been made. Now, there are plethora of commercially available
voice recognition software out in the market.

The Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 Student Edition is one of them . The later versions of Windows OS were equipped with voice recognition software such as the ones pre-installed with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition FULL VERSION with SP2, Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 Upgrade, or the Microsoft's latest Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. In fact, you can download similar software for free at www.download.com. It seemed to me that these software I have mentioned are general purpose voice recognition programs and none of them really dedicated to purely data collection and retail inventory solution. 

But, is there a software dedicated to that particular application? Yes, there is. In September 2005, inventors Vincent Perrin, Judi Perrin, Micahel Joost and Kevin Wood together with AccuTrak have come up with the retail industry's first voice-enabled data collection and inventory system called VoTrak. It was first introduced at a conference in Myrtle, South Carolina. Votrak a special collection of blue-tooth enabled wireless headsets, a laptop, and a custom voice recognition software working as a single unit.


How the system works

Example of a Bluetooth headset

It is simple. The inventory taker wears the wireless headset, then speaks into microphone using a predefined human commands that marks the beginning and end of each section or area which include item prices, number of items by the eaches or by the case. Then the voice information is transmitted over a wireless link to a laptop or portable computer with the software especially programmed to translate each entry.

Data being stored shall be processed into an inventory management database. The system also accepts multiple voice entries simultaneously. Should the inventory taker commits entry error, the software is equipped with error handling functionality to make corrections with entries. The software can also produce a complete audit trail for verification and reporting purposes. The final result is an accurate financial inventory report.


Benefits

Dragon voice recognition kit

Voice recognition software have been around for years. Its general application is diverse. But a specific application in relation to retail inventory have not been widely recognized or to some, it was something new. Let's take a look some of the benefits:

1. It is not machine dependent and therefore reduces repetitive motions and physical stress such as symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and related health issues.
2. It eliminates keystroke errors that are prone to 10-key data collection.
3. It leaves both hands free to count and keeps auditors focused on counting. 
4. Auditors don't have to look at a 10-key machine or be distracted by any other tool.
5. Excellent in financial inventory when the value of all merchandise is a priority in a business.
6. No additional expensive equipment such as handheld scanners, lasers, wands, etc.
7. The system is unique and proprietary. It uses an Adaptive Grammar technology that no software maker or inventory company can use the unique technology. 
8. It uses latest technology: The microphones have significant noise-canceling capabilities and the speakers are high quality with remote volume controls. The data are transmitted by the microphones to the computing unit using Spread Spectrum Radio Communication or Bluetooth® technology.

It basically utilizes the current standard in communications technology. It also convenient because there is no need for 10-key data entry. But for the last 5 years of using the system, there are always issues associated with it.

Some issues being raised 

1. It is not 100% accurate. The best voice recognition systems can only get as high as 95% accuracy for spoken words and has not been perfected even using the latest voice algorithms available. Which means that its results is not totally foolproof.  
2. Speaking for the rest of the inventory can be tiresome. A six-hour inventory would mean 6 hours of speaking. The best speakers can only last several hours.
3. Voice and noise interference. A noisy inventory environment could be an issue. Working near warehouse equipment or with other inventory auditors in close proximity would be an issue. 
4. Language and accent issues. Does the system can adopt to a variety of auditors with different accents. This is probably one of the problems voice recognition software maker is facing. 
5. Only AccuTrak is using a voice-recognition software for inventory. It's been five years now and it seems no serious inventory services has adopted the system.
6. You cannot use the system to an SKU-dependent inventory, or auto-scan inventory. The Votrak inventory auditor must revert back to barcode scanning system which means using different set of barcode scanning machines.
7. Because the technology is proprietary, the system is locked and limited only to its patent user. Therefore it prohibits other software maker to adopt the system for wider or other application.
8. There are no research or statistics being made which suggests that voice-activated inventory is more efficient or at least comparable in terms of accuracy, length of inventory, system efficiency, customer preferences, and over-all impact of the system among inventory service providers compared to the de facto standard barcode scanning and 10-key data entry. Unless AccuTrak can dispute it otherwise.

Analysis

I think that Votrak or similar voice recognition data collection systems are unique in the inventory business. Voice recognition as model has its own strengths and weaknesses just like 10-key data entry. I would love the idea of a hands-free inventory. It is not only convenient but also eliminate physical stresses and health issues such as Carparl Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) which most inventory takers are experiencing. However, the benefits relatively weigh equally with the  issues associated with it. Voice recognition has a specific use in the inventory niche and it may not be widely accepted standard for retail inventory for now, lets put it that way.

I think that it is a good addition or option to the traditional 10-key inventory system but it shall not replace the latter. Right now, barcode scanning and 10-key remain the de facto standard of inventory taking in the next 10 years until the emerging RFID technology will ultimately replace as model of inventory data collection possibly in the next 15 years. 

If there is a growing demand among inventory providers about the benefits and usage of the voice recognition system, then that will give me a good reason to believe that it is a strong contender for data collection in the retail business. For now, let's keep our fingers crossed until the next 5 to 10 years and we go from there. 

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