Amazon Dash – essentials on demand

In a twist of the Internet of Things, Amazon Dash uses simple adhesive buttons connected to your household Wi-Fi to order everyday-items when they’re running low.

Amazon said: ‘Dash Button comes with a reusable adhesive and a hook so you can hang, stick, or place it right where you need it,’

‘Keep Dash Button handy in the kitchen, bath, laundry, or anywhere you store your favourite products.’

‘When you’re running low, simply press Dash Button, and Amazon quickly delivers household favourites so you can skip the last-minute trip to the store.’

Currently, Dash is available in the US, and only to members of the premium Prime service, and while the reception of the button for home use has been mixed, the expansion to B2B and the potential for wider application of the technology for businesses or stockrooms is enormous.

It proves an interesting example of the place physical technology is taking in our purchasing habits, and indicates a shift in behaviour for the shopping for everyday items. Whilst the internet has superseded in-store for one-off or occasional purchases, the majority of us still rely on supermarkets for daily purchases of household items.

This button indicates Amazon's desire to break into the daily essentials market, and cement themselves and their partnered brands as solutions to the everyday needs of the consumer.