Amazon launches a metrics dashboard for Alexa skill developers

Amazon has rolled out a pair of new features for developers who make skills for its Alexa-powered devices, highlighted by the launch of a metrics dashboard that aims to show how consumers are using those voice apps.

The metrics dashboard is available in the Alexa developer portal, and there’s a separate dashboard for each skill that a developer has created. It offers an overview of how successfully the skill is performing, and how successful consumers are when using the skill. Developers can learn

• how many customers a skill has.
• how often (sessions) a skill has been used.
• how many spoken interactions (utterances) users have conducted, and the intent of those interactions.
• peak usage times.
• more…

As Amazon fights with (primarily) Google, Apple and Microsoft for the attention of voice-based developers, providing usage metrics like this will be a key element in gaining and keeping them active as developers.

Here’s a screen shot from Amazon’s blog post announcing the metrics dashboard:

Device Address API

Also new for Alexa developers is a device address API that should improve skills that rely on a consumer’s location — such as delivery services or any skill that offers driving directions.

The API lets developers ask skill users either for their exact street address or just country and postal code. Users will be asked to approve the sharing of their location with the skills that request it, but that consent can only be given in the Alexa app.

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Matt McGee

Matt McGee is the Editor-In-Chief of Marketing Land and Search Engine Land. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. After leaving traditional media in the mid-1990s, he began developing and marketing websites and continued to provide consulting services for more than 15 years. His SEO and social media clients ranged from mom-and-pop small businesses to one of the Top 5 online retailers. Matt is a longtime speaker at marketing events around the U.S., including keynote and panelist roles. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee. You can read Matt’s disclosures on his personal blog. You can reach Matt via email using our Contact page.