AMAZON has quietly introduced a new “Buy for Me” feature that will help shoppers find and buy products from different websites.
The feature is set to revolutionise the shopping experience for customers who like to check all options available on the internet before making a purchase.
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While Amazon already offers a vast selection of products on its website, customers sometimes need items not listed on Amazon.
The new feature will allow customers to discover other brands’ items and quickly order them, without having to leave Amazon’s website or app.
Buy for Me will be directly integrated into Amazon’s platform, but customers will need to search for the Buy for Me button.
When users search for any product, they will see all the options listed on Amazon as well as the options offered by third-party sellers outside Amazon.
When customers tap on an item that says Buy for Me in search results, they are taken to a product detail page within the Amazon Shopping app.
This page provides relevant product information, similar to product detail pages for items Amazon sells, so customers can learn more about the product to help them decide if they want to buy it from the brand retailer’s website.
And if the customer decides to buy the product, they can simply tap on the buy for me purchase button.
Amazon will then purchase the product from the brand retailer’s website on their behalf.
Shoppers will be able to track the delivery of their purchased item, and even raise any grievances to the brand’s retailer, all while staying on Amazon’s platform.
Oliver Messenger, shopping director of Amazon, said: “We’re always working to invent new ways to make shopping even more convenient, and we’ve created Buy For Me to help customers quickly and easily find and buy products from other brand stores if we don’t currently sell those items in our store.
“This new feature uses agentic AI to help customers seamlessly purchase from other brands within the familiar Amazon Shopping app, while also giving brands increased exposure and seamless conversion.”
It comes just days after Amazon revealed a new and ultra-smart version of Alexa, its virtual voice-controlled assistant.
The new AI helper called Alexa+ – which will be available on millions of gadgets – was hailed as “remarkable” by Amazon chief Andy Jassy.
This “next generation Alexa” that talks like a human was unveiled a special AI event hosted by Amazon in New York.
Amazon’s Panos Panay said that the new Alexa “knows almost every instrument in your life” – like the conductor of an orchestra.
That included smart home gadgets, mobile devices, the people you’re connected to, and the apps you’re using – all in a bid to help you get stuff done.
And it’ll cost you a hefty $19.99 a month (UK price pending), although it’s totally free if you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber.
Amazon showed off how Alexa+ would be able to book restaurants for you, create recipes and set timers automatically, and control all of the gadgets in your home at once based on your mood.
“The rearchitecture of all of Alexa has happened, and I’m pumped about it,” said Amazon’s Panos Panay.
Panay described the old Alexa as “frustrating”, saying it would sometimes mishear you or be unable to help.
“While the vision for Alexa has been ambitious and remains incredibly compelling, until right this moment, we have been limited by the technology.
“Every once in a while, a technology comes around and it changes literally everything.”
Amazon says that Alexa is smarter than ever before, and will let you have humanlike conversations with the helper.
It can find a gift, order it, gift-wrap it, and ship it to your home with minimal input.
The new Alexa will remember your favourite food, movies, and interests.
And it’ll get smarter the more you use it, according to Amazon.
