Bolt introduces speech-to-text to its driver app chats, drivers react

Leading taxi-hailing app, Bolt has introduced a speech-to-text feature to its driver app chat. This was revealed in a statement by the company seen by Technext. The company said the new upgrade will enable drivers and riders to communicate more easily and effectively while on the platform.

According to the statement, the new upgrade will allow drivers to simply speak into the app while the app transcribes it into text for the rider to see and respond to.

“Bolt is upgrading its Driver App chat with the option to translate speech to text. This means driver partners will now have the ability to dictate a chat message instead of typing it, and the Bolt app will transcribe it to text, and send it as a regular chat message to the rider. This enables driver partners to communicate more easily and swiftly with passengers,” Bolt said.

The speech-to-text upgrade is coming to Android devices first. To use the feature, drivers can start by tapping the microphone symbol in the respective chat. A prompt would pop up asking drivers to give Bolt permission to use their microphone. Once permission to use the phone’s microphone is given, the driver can go on to dictate the message and check and edit the text produced as needed, before sending it as a message to the rider.

Bolt believes that with this translation function, the chat upgrade will help local drivers communicate with tourists, many of whom already use Bolt while travelling to its over 50 markets around the world that Bolt operates in without needing to speak a shared language. The company says this is one of a number of ways it enables driver partners and customers to communicate with each other, including in-app calls, chat messages and language programs to help bridge language barriers.

Speaking about the speech-to-text addition to its app, Country Manager, Yahaya Mohammed said the introduction underlines the importance the company places on quick and effective communication between drivers and riders.

“At Bolt, we know how important it is to have quick and effective communication between driver partners and riders. With this upgrade, we enable driver-partners in Nigeria to communicate more easily and swiftly with our riders. It’s one of a number of ways we support a high-quality platform through quick and easy communication between driver partners and riders, including in-app calls, chat messages, and language programmes aimed at helping bridge language barriers.”

Drivers react to Bolt’s speech-to-text 

Bolt’s latest addition is coming in the midst of an ongoing nationwide protest through which Nigerians are crying out for the most basic of needs; hunger. It is not surprising, therefore, that some drivers are not very enthusiastic about a feature whose importance pales in comparison with their present needs.

Kelvin for instance does not think Bolt should be introducing such a feature at such an inopportune time when people are grappling with hunger: 

“The country is hard yet they are introducing speech-to-text. No be person wey eat belle full dey speech? This Bolt app self!” he said.

In the same light, Justus questioned how the feature would increase drivers’ earnings, a factor that has been a source of disagreement for drivers who would rather an upgrade in pay than in an app chat feature.

“How does speech-to-text improve the driver’s earnings? As usual, most policymakers are estranged from reality,” he said.

But there are those who believe the introduction is an important one because it has the capacity to truly enhance communication. Ayobami, for instance, believes the addition will allow drivers to concentrate more on their driving.

“I think it’s a welcome development because it will reduce the usage of phones while driving for more concentration,” she said.

Neyosti also thinks it is a welcome development although he believes the regular Nigerian accent might not work on the app.

“Well I don’t use Bolt just Uber so I don’t have a say on that. But if that is so, it is going to be good for someone who has good speech. I mean good accent. But for a person like me, the app is going to be confused because I have a strong Ibadan accent and I don’t think the app will understand my English,” he said.

Bolt says the latest upgrade joins recent Driver App upgrades which include ‘Driver Compliments’, a program which recognises exceptional service and motivates driver partners through sharing positive post-trip rating compliments and comments left by customers.

See also: This Nigerian driver is dictating his own price on the Uber and Bolt apps in protest against pricing

The post Bolt introduces speech-to-text to its driver app chats, drivers react first appeared on Technext.