by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:49 AM ET, Wed July 19, 2017
Avis Car Rental has announced that customers will soon be able to book and manage car rental reservations by using their Amazon Alexa supported devices.
Avis unveiled its new partnership at the Global Business Travel Association's (GBTA) Convention this week and announced the service will be available to customers by the end of August.
When it finally debuts to the general public, Alexa-enabled devices such as the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot will be able to make car rental reservations, review current or past reservations and request an e-receipt of their last rental.
"We are constantly looking for ways to make the customer's experience more magical," Avis Budget Group chief innovation officer Arthur Orduna said in a statement.
"We have our mobile app, which allows renters to manage their entire experience from their smartphone at approximately 175 locations globally, and now with Alexa integration, we will provide them with yet another way to engage with us seamlessly thanks to transformative digital technology."
For business travelers, they will be given instant, voice-controlled access to the car rental booking process by integrating preferences stored in their Avis Preferred profile, including the type of car and additional options like SiriusXM radio, GPS devices and coverage.
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According to a study by Gartner, Inc., it is believed that by 2018, an estimated 30 percent of consumer interactions with technology will be through voice assistance platforms.
By integrating Avis' rental car process through Amazon Alexa, it underscores the brand's commitment to driving innovation and to creating a superior reservation and rental experience for its customers.
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