In today’s digital world, accessibility plays a vital role in delivering a seamless user experience. Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology helps users by converting written text into spoken words, making applications more inclusive for visually impaired individuals and improving usability for all.
Previously, we explored adding text-to-speech capability in Aura Components. In this blog, we will implement the same functionality using Lightning Web Components (LWC). Thanks to the modern Web Speech API, we can achieve this with minimal effort.
Why Use Text-to-Speech in LWC?
Text-to-speech in LWC can be helpful in various scenarios:
1. Enhanced Accessibility
It makes services easier to use. Customers who are blind or have other difficulties can use portals, self-service apps, and support channels more easily. For example, they can listen to their case updates or instructions instead of reading them, which removes obstacles for them
2. AI-Powered Chatbots with Voice Output
When Text-to-Speech is added to Salesforce chatbots or Agentforce, the bot can talk to customers instead of only showing text on the screen. This makes the interaction feel more like a real conversation with a human. Customers usually find this type of communication easier, friendlier, and more engaging than just reading messages.
3. Multilingual Support
Customers around the world often speak different languages, and they expect to get support in the language they are most comfortable with. Text-to-Speech makes this possible without needing extra people on the support team. The same written response can be spoken out in different languages like English, French, Hindi, or many others. This means every customer can hear the information in their own language, making the service experience clear, friendly, and consistent for everyone.
4. Voice-Enabled Self-Service Portals
Text-to-Speech (TTS) can make self-service easier for customers. Instead of only reading instructions, customers can listen to steps for fixing problems, activating a service, or filling out an application. This is very helpful for people using mobile phones, because listening is often quicker and more comfortable than reading small text on a screen.
It also makes the process smoother for people who prefer listening while doing other tasks, like walking or driving. In short, TTS makes self-service more convenient and user-friendly.
5. Customer Education & Training
Customer service teams can use Text-to-Speech to turn written guides or instructions into spoken words. This means customers can listen to clear step-by-step help without needing an agent to explain everything. It also makes sure that every customer gets the same information in the same way, which improves consistency and saves agents time.
Convert Text-to-Speech In Lightning Web Component
We are using the Web Speech API, which is a built-in browser feature for speech recognition and speech synthesis. In this example, we use the SpeechSynthesisUtterance interface, which takes the text we provide and converts it into spoken words. By passing our input text to SpeechSynthesisUtterance and then calling speechSynthesis.speak(), the browser generates natural-sounding speech without needing any external library.
