The Amazon Echo has proven to be a massive hit for Amazon Prime Day 2017, as the number of smart speakers sold this year worldwide is already three times the number sold in last year's version of the annual shopping event.
Google tried to draw customers away from buying the Amazon Echo in this year's Prime Day with a $99 Google Home bundle, but it appears that there is no way to stop the popularity of the Alexa-powered smart speaker.
Amazon Echo Sales Surge
It was largely expected that Amazon Echo sales for this year's Prime Day will be higher, primarily because there are a few more models of the smart speaker that are available. However, the announcement that Amazon Echo sales are three times higher compared to last year was made halfway through Prime Day, which suggests that by the end of the event, that figure will be even higher.
Amazon Prime Day offered discounts to Amazon Prime subscribers on various products, and Amazon did not hold back for its Amazon Echo product line. For example, the original Amazon Echo, which has an original price of $179.99 and sold in last year's Prime Day for $129.99, is being sold for only $89.99 this year. Customers who visit Amazon's website will be greeted by large banners for the Amazon Echo, further drawing eyes toward the deals for the smart speakers.
According to insiders from the company, thousands of Amazon Echo devices are being sold per minute. The Amazon Echo Dot, originally priced at $49.99 and now sold for only $34.99, appears to be the first model that will be sold out.
"Prime Day has beat all of Amazon's expectations," the source said, adding that the company is "shocked" by the increase.
Heightened Interest In Smart Speakers
The surge in sales for Amazon Echo products can be attributed to the heightened interest from customers on smart speakers, as the product has slowly moved into the mainstream since the Amazon Echo started selling in late 2014.
The Google Home has since entered the market, with the Apple HomePod and Microsoft Invoke arriving as additional challengers soon. The digital assistants powering smart speakers have also steadily improved, with the devices taking up more headlines, for better or worse.
The increased sales for the Amazon Echo in this year's Prime Day could also be attributed to a bigger window for the annual event, in addition to its expansion to 13 countries worldwide. Nevertheless, the surge in interest for smart speakers is evident in higher Amazon Echo sales, which is great news for one of the world's largest retailers.
