Retail giant Amazon has announced the release of its new device, Amazon Dash, to support its budding grocery delivery business, AmazonFresh.
The device is voice-activated, and automatically adds desired items, including fresh produce, to the customer's shopping list. The Dash also has a UPC barcode scanner. By connecting to the user's Wi-Fi network, it can automatically login to the Amazon account and add the items.
"Conveniently refill and restock your home's everyday essentials, and have fun doing it," states the Amazon Dash informational web page.
Users will still need to login to the Amazon website in order to make purchases, but the new wand gadget will speed up transactions, making it easier for users to get what they want.
How much will the new device cost? Currently it is FREE, but available by invitation only. Presumably, Amazon is offering the Dash to its existing AmazonFresh customers. So far, the grocery delivery service operates in Southern California, San Francisco and Seattle, but as AndNowUKnow has previously reported, there are rumors of a national expansion in the near future.
Proprietary brands and specific varieties could eventually be programmed into the device, and this differentiation could be an important part of marketing fresh produce for the AmazonFresh service.
Will this device increase AmazonFresh's business? News of its release has already generated significant buzz about AmazonFresh nationally, and this benefit alone may be worth the cost.
AmazonFresh's Amazon Dash
