Millions of consumers can now book appointments with plumbers, electricians and handymen instantly, simply by asking Alexa
April 14, 2016 (Golden, CO)– HomeAdvisor launched today the first home services Alexa Skill, available on all Alexa-enabled devices such as Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap and Amazon Fire TV. HomeAdvisor’s skill for Alexa uses HomeAdvisor’s patent pending Instant Connect technology to connect users on the phone in less than a minute to an available home service professional in HomeAdvisor’s nationwide prescreened network. The robust skill takes advantage of Alexa’s capability to have a conversation with the user, as it utilizes the “open mic” feature to arrange appointments on-demand for home repairs such as plumbing emergencies.
“Smart home platforms are the next big growth accelerators for local home services – and no other player in our category has the scale or technology to unlock the power of the connected home for homeowners,” said Chris Terrill, CEO of HomeAdvisor. “With more than a decade of experience and over ten million service requests flowing through our system in the last year, HomeAdvisor is uniquely positioned to leverage smart home platforms such as Alexa-enabled devices to help homeowners instantly connect with service providers in the easiest and most convenient way imaginable. Now, instantly connecting with a prescreened home service professional is as easy as speaking aloud.”
To access a HomeAdvisor professional, users enable the skill from the Amazon Alexa app, and then tell Alexa to “Ask HomeAdvisor to find me a plumber.” Alexa will then ask the user’s zip code and phone number to connect them instantly on the phone with a prescreened and available home professional. HomeAdvisor has access to professionals covering more than 500 home projects and is available nationwide. Professionals in HomeAdvisor’s elite network undergo a criminal and financial background check prior to joining the network and are customer rated and reviewed.
“We’re excited to add the HomeAdvisor skill to Alexa, as it adds even more convenience for owners of Alexa enabled devices. Finding a service professional from HomeAdvisor is now as easy as asking Alexa,” said Rob Pulciani, Amazon Alexa Director. “This Alexa skill is a great example of how adding the power of voice to an already existing service can transform the experience. Consumers don’t need to lift a finger yet still get that immediate fulfillment they’ve come to expect for everything from pizza delivery to car services.”
For more information about HomeAdvisor, visit HomeAdvisor.com.
###
About HomeAdvisor
HomeAdvisor is a nationwide digital home services marketplace providing homeowners the tools and resources for home repair, maintenance, and improvement projects. HomeAdvisor’s marketplace lets homeowners view average project costs coast-to-coast using True Cost Guide, find local prescreened home professionals, and instantly book appointments online or through HomeAdvisor’s award-winning iOS and Android mobile apps. Access to all of HomeAdvisor’s resources is free for homeowners, with no membership or fees required. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, Colo., and is an operating business of IAC (NASDAQ: IAC).
Contacts:
Jody Privette Young
PR-Zone for HomeAdvisor, Inc.
Direct: 415-328-4700
