Amazon Dash Buttons: home automation in supplying

Amazon (who else) decided that home automation could be used to sell. The way it found was the creation of physical buttons that allow to order by just one tap: Amazon Dash Buttons. 

Is this a new way to buy? A scalable strategy? Will home automation in supplying have a real impact? 

As we have already said, physical buttons are very good representatives of IoT. 

They are small intelligent and autonomous devices connect to wifi network. They do not need to connect to any power source since they come preloaded with a battery that brings them an approximate autonomy of 2,000 clicks. Once downloaded, we throw them away and Amazon replaces them for free. 

So that they begin to operate, they have to be synchronized via Amazon app for smartphones. It is a very simple process that does not take a minute. 

From there, they are ready to begin to buy. We only need to decide where to fix them with their adhesive or using the small hook they are equipped with. They are typically placed where we store those products associated with the dash button to place the order very quick and intuitive way. 

In fact, it can not be easier. Once configured, it is as difficult as pressing the doorbell. 

When you realize you are running out of shaving foam, just press the related Dash Button. One led will switch on indicating that the order is in progress and you will only have to wait 24 hours to receive it. Please, keep in mind that is an exclusive service for AmazonPrime clients. 

What if you want to cancel it? 

No problem. Simply visit the app or portal and to do so as you would in any other case. In addition, you will receive a notification on your mobile phone, which is very useful to avoid accidental or  orders- it is a very attractive and accessible gadget very attractive and accessible to children, for example. 

But you are at ease because although it is pressed several times, a new order will not be accepted until the one in progress is delivered.

Each of these Dash Buttons is linked to a single product of a specific company. They are even supplied fully customized with logo and corporate colors of the own brand. When the first sync is done, you have to choose which article of that company you want to associate with your new device. 

The product categories with Amazon buttons are divided into the following:

It is clear that we are talking about products with a very high rotation, which can justify this kind of strategy. It would not make sense creating a button to purchase a computer or any other that is not recurrent or involves a reflexivity. 

For those who want to explore beyond home automation in supplying and its possibilities, developers have access to a “blank” button that can be programmed to perform specificactions at your convenience using AWS. 

Actually, this is the most interesting of all, what really can open the options of a product than, originally seems rather limited to be attractive for general audience. 

To acquire a Dash Button you have to pay €4.99. It is not too much, but you will have to assess whether it makes sense to pay additionally only for purchasing when, if you remember, you are already paying for your annual Premium subscription. 

In reality, it is only a deterrent price so that users do not ask for the sake of asking by asking. When the first order is placed, the money you paid for the button will be refund. 

Despite having a significant run in United States and spreading across other markets, our opinion is that they are not very practical and also we believe that they are not very profitable for Amazon. 

Scalability is complicated and they are little practical; they even take room. In fact, they have recently released the virtual Dash Buttons, so this could be a problem for many users. 

It has not been excessive enthusiasm from Amazon´s competitors or too much hurry to replicate this strategy. 

So the question is simple: what does Amazon achieve with Dash Buttons? 

Again from our point of view, I think that what it gets is very interesting. We are living an era in which we pull our hair out looking for ways to apply Big Data to e-commerce and this source of data is of an enormous relevance. Imagine the consumption patterns Amazon is getting and the impact this will have at the strategic level. 

The other benefit is direct and is linked to something that is very important for Amazon and for any business: recurrence. If you put the replacement of your product at the reach of a click, you will get many customers to buy on impulse or for convenience.