The Amazon Echo was largely hailed as a great invention, however, one that was largely un-integrated with Amazon Prime features.
Since its release, Amazon has been working on updating the device to better offer features, and the company has finally added something that it should have had from the start — the ability to order items hands-free.
Of course, there is a catch to this new feature. Users can only order items they have ordered in the past. For example, if you tell the device to order "paper towels," and you have ordered them in the past, it will assume that you want the same ones again. Users will not be able to use the device to order completely new items.
"To place an order, say the wake word followed by a request to order the item. For example, if you previously placed an order for laundry detergent, say, 'Alexa, reorder laundry detergent.' If the item is eligible for purchase, Amazon Echo tells you the item name and cost, and then shows additional details about the item in the Amazon Echo App," said Amazon in a statement.
However, there is a little extra functionality to the new feature. If you attempt to re-order an item and the device does not find a previous order, it will attempt to locate a similar item from "Amazon's Choice." If it succeeds in finding this, the device will ask you if you want to purchase the similar item instead.
If neither of these two methods work, the device will simply add the item to the user's shopping list, a function that the device has done since it was first launched.
The new function is very similar to Amazon's Dash buttons that were unveiled a few months ago, which are connected to specific items and allow the users to order an item at the press of a button.
The fact that Amazon took so long to expand the device's shopping features is a little surprising, especially considering the fact that many assumed the device was being released by the company with the intent of expanding its e-commerce operations. While this is likely still true, the company has done a good job of making sure items to buy are not being shoved down the user's throat.
It's likely that, pretty soon, Amazon will update the device to be able to order any item that the user wants whenever they want.
