Amazon is bringing text messaging to its Alexa for Shopping agent, starting with a small group of invited US customers, according to The Next Web. The feature lets people find products, place orders and monitor prices through text messages, with millions more users gaining access in the weeks ahead.
Key takeaways
- Invited US customers can now text the Alexa for Shopping agent to find products and place orders.
- The shopping assistant can buy items automatically when prices hit user-defined targets.
- Conversations started via text carry over smoothly to the main website, app and smart devices.
- Sponsored products may appear in responses, though Amazon is not charging advertisers right now.
How does the new text feature work for Alexa for Shopping?
Shoppers who join the test receive a contact named “Alexa Shopping.” They can type out requests for items like pet food or share pictures of recipes and clothing to receive tailored options. Purchases happen either after receiving explicit user approval or automatically whenever an item reaches a designated price point.
The text thread also handles price drop alerts, package tracking and reordering of past items. Rajiv Mehta, Amazon vice president of conversational shopping, stated, “Now with Alexa for Shopping, your personal Shopping agent is just a text away,” as reported by The Next Web.
Where do sponsored products fit into text message Shopping?
The text interface creates a fresh spot for advertising. Sponsored items can show up among recommendations sent by the assistant, but Amazon currently charges nothing for these placements. Also, transactions handled entirely by the agent without human intervention include no advertisements, according to Digiday reports cited by The Next Web.
What happens next?
Amazon introduced the underlying shopping assistant in May, reporting usage by over 400 million people during the past year. Andy Jassy, chief executive, stated last week that he expects this tool to become the primary purchasing method for the platform. Competitors are also expanding into messaging services, as OpenAI added texting to its Dot agent last month and DoorDash introduced text ordering in September.
Frequently asked questions
The feature is rolling out to a small group of invited US customers, with millions of additional users scheduled to receive access in the coming weeks.
The agent can search for products, compare items, place orders, track price drops, reorder previous purchases and check on the status of packages.
The agent can buy items with the customer's direct approval or execute purchases automatically when a product's price hits a target set by the user.
Sponsored products can appear among the options sent by the agent, although Amazon is not currently charging advertisers for these placements.
Amazon launched the tool in May, and more than 400 million customers have used it over the past year.
Based on reporting by The Next Web. Read the original article
