Shopping with Alexa remains one of the least used features of Amazon’s voice assistant. And it is understandable that this is the case, because there are many doubts about how it works, the security measures it offers to avoid unwanted purchases, etc. So let’s dive into this guide with everything you need to know about shopping with Alexa.
What is shopping with Alexa
The shopping function with Alexa is nothing more than, as its name indicates, having the possibility of making a purchase in the Amazon online store through its assistant and through the use of voice commands. That is, to be able to say something like “Alexa, buy milk” and that the voice assistant is able to carry out the action without having to resort to a device with a screen.
Interesting and futuristic at the same time, right? Yes, but even though it is already a reality, very few users use this function. The main reason is the trust towards a system that they do not see as safe for the very fact of buying “blindly”. Why if it is not what you really wanted or the amounts are wrong? Good in principle there would be no problem, because purchases continue to enjoy free returns, although it is logical to think that way.
Likewise, it must also be said that the idea of this function is to be able to make all those purchases that you already make regularly on a recurring basis from time to time. So there should not be any kind of problem, because you are going to buy products that you already know well, such as all those related to food, cleaning products, etc.
What is needed to order with Alexa
Now that you know what it is to buy with Alexa, you may be wondering what you need to do it. Well, to make purchases with Alexa it is important to meet a series of requirements :
- The first is to have an Amazon account
- In this account you must have configured a valid payment method
- In addition, the shipping address details must be correct to avoid problems
Ready, if you comply with these sections, you can buy on Amazon using the voice assistant. Although there are still another series of aspects that you need to know so that the experience is satisfactory and you avoid possible scares with unwanted purchases.
Safety when shopping using Alexa
In the same way that any user can use your smart device with Alexa, they could also use the shopping function. Therefore, the first recommended measure to make shopping using Amazon’s voice assistant somewhat more secure is to create a voice profile.
Profiles allow the assistant to recognize the person who is speaking to them. In this way they know whether or not it is the account holder and can allow the action of buying through voice commands.
To create one of these voice profiles you just have to carry out the following steps, although you may have already done it in some previous configuration for other functions of the assistant:
- Open the Alexa app on your mobile device
- Go to the More option and then to the Settings section
- Then select the Buy by voice option
- In this setting go to Purchase confirmation
- Now select the option to manage in order to assign the appropriate profile to it.
- When you have it, selected and then click save
- Finally, you can activate or deactivate this profile for the topic of purchases
This is the first security measure that allows the purchase with Alexa, but there is still another additional one that further multiplies the level of confidence in the purchase process: the use of a PIN code . To configure it do the following:
- Again open the Alexa application on your mobile device
- Again, within More, click Settings
- Select Account Settings and then Voice Buy
- In the Purchase Settings section click Manage
- Now you just have to activate the voice code and set the four-digit numeric code you want to use
With these two settings, you will be able to make purchases with the Amazon voice assistant in a safe way, since it will not only have to recognize your voice, but also know what is the digit that will confirm the purchase. And it is true that having to dictate a security code reduces the agility of the process, but it is also true that it is the way in which many users could trust to use this function.
How to order with Alexa
Finally, how to place an order with Alexa is quite simple. All you have to do is ask him as you would ask many other things. For example, “Alexa, buy milk.” If you want him to buy several bottles of milk you will only have to indicate him with the number of them and thus with practically anything that comes to mind.
Of course, you have to be attentive to see what options it offers you, so that it is always the one you really want. For the rest, it does not have many mysteries and it does have a multitude of possibilities, although it will be a slow process until you adapt to this way of interacting for something as basic as going shopping.
Complement the shopping with Alexa function with shopping lists
To finish completing all these shopping options with Alexa are the shopping lists . Even if you don’t get to make the purchase through the wizard, being able to use it to add items that you need to purchase is very useful and is also very simple.
To use the shopping lists, you just have to have created one or more lists, depending on whether they are shopping for home, work or whatever, and tell Alexa to add the items that you say to them. For example, “Alexa, add toilet paper to shopping list” or “Alexa, add folios to office shopping list.