The concept behind the Amazon Dash button is simple — whatever household good one is out of (think detergent, Doritos), just hit the appropriate Dash button and await its arrival.
The problem, of course, is that one ends up with dozens of little Dash buttons littering the home.
Amazon saw this problem coming down the pipe — a little over a year ago, it modified Dash to include its Dash Replenishment Service that ties the button directly into whatever smart device one is using so that the machine itself can do the job the button once did for it. Now, printers running low on ink or smart doors with dying batteries can automatically detect their issue — and order their own solution.
That solution, however, needs manufacturer participation — and this week, Amazon announced that it had added more makers to the Dash fold. Devices joining the team will be printers for HP and Epson, a series of Kenmore appliances and a even a Wi-Fi “pet camera” that will automatically order treats for your furry friend when necessary.
To compliment that expansion, Amazon had previously announced the Virtual Dash Button Service (VDBS) that will allow third parties to place a Dash button on a screen device.
“Virtual Dash Buttons are shortcuts that allow Prime members to quickly find and reorder their favorite products from a selection of millions of eligible products,” Amazon explains. “Virtual Dash Buttons launched on Amazon’s mobile application and website in January 2017, expanded to Echo Show in October, and now can be available on third party devices via VDBS.”
The system also allows users to choose — the washing machine might show one a few brands, for example.
The recent moves by Amazon come as it is pursues its vision of being fully wired to consumers’ coming smart homes — tied to its virtual voice assistant Alexa.
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