Amazon has launched new HIPAA-compliant skills aimed at improving voice services in healthcare fields. All of these skills will now transmit health-related information via voice within the confines established by HIPAA.

While HIPAA-compliant voice features have been on the horizon for some time now, this marks a significant step towards progress in the $3.5 trillion healthcare industry. While healthcare has lagged behind other consumer-facing industries when it comes to technology, this new software coming out of Amazon appears to be the light at the end of the tunnel.

The value of advertising on Amazon is a lot like the value of paying to upgrade your visibility through premium placements on Google and other search platforms.

While Amazon might function as a threat to local retailers everywhere, Fast Company argued that's not enough to stop those local businesses from advertising through the retail giant.

Here are four reasons why retailers are turning to the platform to use its marketing tools.