IndusInd Bank is deploying Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa to help its customers carry out transactions such as fund transfers, mobile phone recharge and credit card payments. The bank said in a statement it has launched its AI-based Alexa Skill-IndusAssist, which enables its customers to conduct financial and non-financial banking transactions on Amazon Echo and other Alexa-enabled devices using voice-based commands. Customers will have to do a one-time registration to link their bank details using the Alexa app on their smart phone to use the service. Post registration, all authentication and transaction requests will remain voice-based – transactions would follow the standard two-step authentication process to ensure that they are safe and secure. The bank said the customers using the service will be able to recharge their mobile phones, pay credit card bills and so on by voicing out simple commandments such as ‘Alexa, ask IndusAssist to recharge my mobile number’. It is the first Indian bank to enter into such a partnership; most banks use text-based chatbots for financial transactions and assistance to customers.
