If you are an Amazon shopper, and lets be real, who isn’t, things just got easier. Amazon.com, the world’s largest online retailer and social media player SnapChat have hooked up.
It’s a rare for Amazon to team up with anybody. They don’t need to. But they like SnapChat. The new relationship will help Snapchat compete with Instagram and Pinterest for social shopping cash. Snapchat announced it’s dropping a new visual product search feature using images and barcodes. The move, code named “Eagle,” was first reported by TechCrunch in July.
The idea is, if you see it, and like it, you can buy it. SnapChat users can use their camera to scan the item or the universal bar barcode. That brings up a card showing the item or something similar with the title, price, a thumbnail image, average review score and Amazon Prime availability. Just tap on it and you’ll be whisked away to Amazon’s app or website to buy it.
Social media shopping or social commerce is taking off in a big way and Amazon wants in on the deal. SnapChat hopes to stem the loss of daily users that has dropped from 191 million to just over 188 million. Social site Instagram launched Shopping tags in Stories and a dedicated a Shopping channel in Explore. Pinterest opened up Shop the Look pins and hitting 250 million monthly users. SnapChat hopes the new feature will blend with its young and culture-obsessed audience.
Breaking It Down
This move is all about new markets for Amazon. SnapChat is a young people’s game. This new generation is all about their smartphones and selfies and pictures and social media. They’ve moved away from Facebook and Amazon has seen it. They have also moved away from traditional online shopping as well as the malls. So how do you get with the new young audience and new way of shopping? You get into their world. A young person will see a new pair for sneakers or jacket on a Kardasian and want it. SnapChat sees it and Amazon sells it.
