Prudential Retirement Builds Skill for Amazon Alexa

Prudential Retirement launched its first skill – that works with Amazon’s Alexa. The skill can be used by those enrolled in Prudential’s defined contribution, defined benefit cash balance and non-qualified retirement plans who have an Alexa-enabled device and a registered account on the Prudential Retirement website.

Account holders can check their balances, rates of return and outstanding loan balances – the top three reasons they log into the Prudential Retirement website, according to a March 2016 Prudential participant survey. “People today expect faster and easier ways to keep track of their financial progress. Now with the help of Alexa, we’re giving our plan participants the information they need, with a simple voice command” – Head of Sales and Strategic Relationships for Prudential Retirement, Scott Gaul.

Already, 51% of US consumers use some type of voice assistant, according to Adobe Digital Insights, and Amazon’s Alexa-enabled devices dominate the marketplace. By the year 2020, 30% of web searches will be via voice technologies, according to Gartner, Inc., a leading technology market research firm. “We have to be where our customers are. Delivering new ways to keep participants engaged around financial wellness is critical to helping them reach their retirement goals” – Head of Full Service Solutions for Prudential Retirement, Harry Dalessio.

The Prudential Retirement skill for Alexa was developed by an in-house team, including one of the company’s interns, who has since joined the company full-time. “Imagine watching a commercial on television about saving for retirement. Without moving from the couch, you can ask Alexa to check your account balance. Instead of saying ‘I’ll do it later,’ you say ‘Alexa,’ and do it now” – Scott Gaul.