Epic’s entry into the fast-growing ambient speech market is drawing strong interest from its customers, according to a Sept. 26 report from KLAS Research.
At its annual UGM conference in August, Epic announced it will release a native clinician-facing ambient speech tool built with Microsoft. The move shifts the company away from prior integrations with vendors such as Microsoft and Abridge, and could “reshape an already crowded and quickly evolving market,” KLAS wrote in its report, Epic’s Ambient Speech Announcement 2025.
KLAS interviewed 35 Epic customers who attended the conference, exploring their initial reactions to the announcement and the factors driving or hindering adoption plans.
Here are eight key findings from the report:
Fifty-seven percent reacted positively to the announcement, 37% were neutral and 6% were negative.
Leaders cited expectations of stronger integration and lower costs compared to competing solutions. One respondent said, “Epic will likely do exactly what other vendors in this space do at a lower cost, so for us, it is a good thing they are getting into this.”
Still, some executives expressed frustration with the rollout, citing existing vendor contracts or concerns about whether Epic’s tool will match the maturity of current products. One COO told KLAS, “Epic told us to go with a partner and then they went ahead and built out the thing they were partnering on.”
According to KLAS, 54% of respondents said they are “very likely” or “likely” to adopt Epic’s ambient speech solution within two years. Loyalty to Epic and the appeal of native integration with the patient record were cited as the main drivers behind adoption plans.
Among the five organizations without a current ambient solution, all expected to adopt Epic’s tool quickly.
Longer term, most customers anticipate Epic will become their exclusive ambient vendor, echoing historical patterns in which Epic modules replaced third-party tools. However, some leaders plan to retain specialty-specific products alongside Epic’s tool.
Microsoft users were the most confident about moving exclusively to Epic’s solution, citing Microsoft’s role in development and frustrations with cost.
Customers of other vendors—including Abridge, Ambience Healthcare, DeepScribe, Freed and Nabla—were more cautious, waiting for Epic to demonstrate maturity and specialty support.
Overall, KLAS reported that Epic’s entry into the space is seen as both a risk and a catalyst. Some respondents worry about reduced competition, while others believe the move could push the market forward.
The post Epic’s ambient speech push could reshape market: KLAS appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.
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