The last few years have seen increased adoption of voice technology, with the usage of voice assistants booming across the globe. A lot of it has to do with advancements in speech recognition technology, easy accessibility to voice interfaces and availability at the right time and the right place. Not only that, but Covid-19 has acted as a catalyst for businesses. Popularly referred to as the "fourth channel of sales," voice technology is impacting how consumers interact with brands, preferring the immediacy and interpersonality of phone calls. Voice assistants are not only helping people get through their regular routines; they have become essential for businesses hoping to assist customers, improve employee engagement, enhance communication efficiencies and elevate user experiences.

Raghu Ravinutala is CEO and co-founder of enterprise-grade conversational AI platform Yellow.ai. The last few years have seen increased adoption of voice technology, with the usage of voice assistants booming across the globe. A lot of it has to do with advancements in speech recognition technology, easy accessibility to voice interfaces and availability at the right time and the right place. Not only that, but Covid-19 has acted as a catalyst for businesses. Popularly referred to as the "fourth channel of sales," voice technology is impacting how consumers interact with brands, preferring the immediacy and interpersonality of phone calls.

Technology platforms have tremendous potential to drive social progress. The financial technology (fintech) industry epitomises this, particularly in Southeast Asia -- where almost half of a 400 million-strong adult population do not have a bank account; while 90 million hold a bank account but lack sufficient access to investment products, insurance or credit. The significance of enabling access to financial services cannot be underscored -- financial access underpins a better quality of life, by helping families and businesses plan for everything from long-term goals to unexpected emergencies. With access to bank accounts, people are more likely to use other financial services, such as credit and insurance, to start and expand businesses, invest in education or health, manage risk, and weather financial shocks, which can improve the overall quality of their lives. In fact, the World Bank considers financial inclusion a key enabler to reduce extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. Southeast Asia is a hotbed for growth and innovation and fintech Promisingly, the past years have seen a boom in fintech startups across Southeast Asia, with growth unlikely to slow down -- according to a report from UOB, fintech funding in the region jumped more than three times in the first nine months of 2021 compared with full-year 2020, reaching a record $3.5 billion!