WASHINGTON, July 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VisaHQ is ahead of the curve as the visa and passport industry enters the AI revolution. The leading online visa and passport application solution announced today the launch of Visa Services. VisaHQ Visa Services is a voice-activated visa application system offered on Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Google Assistant. The service is designed to guide travelers through the visa application process with real-time answers to common questions.

Via their smart speakers, travelers can check visa requirements for their future destinations, learn about necessary documents, and get the addresses of the closest embassies or consulates. VisaHQ Visa Services provides clear information about the types of visas people may need and how to obtain them.

A recent study by VisaHQ revealed that 43% of travelers are confused or afraid of making a mistake when applying for visas. The thought of having a travel visa instills happiness for 51% of those surveyed, but having to apply creates confusion, fear, and boredom.

Visa Services provides a solution with its user-friendly responses, helping users to avoid visa confusion. VisaHQ President Oleg Naydonov says, “People don’t like to pick up their phones to ask questions, they don’t have time to wait for embassy staff to answer, and they are confused by conflicting information found online. We simplify everything with a helpful bot you can actually speak to.”

International travelers know how complicated it can be to get the visas they need. Where can you turn when you have visa questions? Government websites are notoriously hard to navigate and only 20% of travelers rely on them for information. Furthermore, visa requirements change often and policy updates aren’t always posted immediately. With Visa Services by VisaHQ, travelers can use Alexa and Google Home and other connected devices to get the answers they need 24/7.

Naydonov says, "Think of Visa Services as a sort of ‘always there voice-recognition travel agent.’ It's incredible to think how backward visa and passport services are today," added Oleg. "Applying for a visa is still a paper-based process that gets in the way of international mobility in a digital world.”

As a matter of fact, 40% of millennials currently use voice-activated assistants for purchase research. Gartner predicts that by the end of 2018, 30% of our interactions with technology will be through “conversations” with smart machines. According to PhocusWright, “The movement to voice interaction is not simply a new UI, but a fundamental change in the way people interact with technology.”

When using Visa Services by VisaHQ, the applicant triggers the program by saying “talk to visa services” within Alexa, Google Home or Google Assistant. As the first “voice to visa” program available, VisaHQ is pioneering a more accessible, innovative visa process. The program, which is in beta, will continue to grow and improve as more people use it.

On Alexa users are first required to install the skill ‘Visa Services’.

With the launch of Visa Services by VisaHQ, the company is confident that travelers will be able to get instant responses to every visa-related question. "We are growing less patient," says Naydonov, "We are used to instant results and people don't understand why getting a visa should be any different.”

In addition to the launch of this innovative voice-activated platform, VisaHQ will offer travelers the ability to utilize a chatbot that functions on Google products. “AI-driven chatbots represent a new reality for the travel industry. Our experience in Asia, where we are working with Alibaba Group, has taught us that the market is about to explode in this part of the world,” says Naydonov.

Fueled by innovations that simplify our everyday life, the smart speaker market was valued at USD 2.68 Billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 11.79 billion by 2023 according to a recent report by ResearchAndMarkets. Amazon, with its Echo and Alexa speakers, dominates at 69 percent (31 million units) while Google Home owns 31 percent of the market with (14 million units) according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).

VisaHQ merges the skill of its expert team with an innovative AI-powered online solution to eliminate time-consuming repetitive tasks that are a part of applying for travel documents. Visa obtention is free from hassles with VisaHQ; the company ensures that travel documents will arrive on-time, without error and that expensive rescheduling fees will be eliminated.

Screenshot Visa Services Chatbot interaction on Google Assistant (320 KB PNG)

Related Twitter accounts: VisaHQ  https://twitter.com/VisaHQ

About VisaHQ VisaHQ’s online platform makes it simple to obtain travel visas by streamlining and automating the application process. Whether you are a seasoned business traveler or a first-time overseas vacationer, our secure and intuitive platform saves time and hassle leaving you free to focus on your upcoming trip. Headquartered in Washington D.C., VisaHQ was founded in 2003 on the premise that physical borders between nations can be made invisible via technology. Our mission has always been to create a more accessible, secure world for every traveler. Today, the company has 24 offices in 12 countries and is continuously expanding to new locations. See www.visahq.com  for more information.

Press Contact: VisaHQ Stanislas Berteloot VP Global Growth stan@visahq.com +1 609 933 4363