Snapchat and Amazon Launch ‘Point & Buy’ Feature
Snapchat has announced a new visual search tool in partnership with Amazon. Snapchat users will now be able to point their camera at items, quickly find it on Amazon and immediately make a purchase.
A blog post released by Snap this week explained: “when the item or barcode is recognized, an Amazon card will appear on-screen, surfacing a link for that product or similar ones available on Amazon. Tap your selection to visit the Amazon App (if you have it installed on your phone) or Amazon.com, where you can complete your purchase or keep browsing.”
This new venture is the latest in a line of social media apps partnering up with retailers to sell products directly. Instagram has a feature that allows businesses to tag their products in posts and stories where users can then purchase directly from the app. Facebook has also introduced augmented reality (AR) advertisements to both the Messenger and News Feed sections of its social media platform. Following a successful trail run with Michael Kors, Facebook plan to roll out augmented reality adverts for fashion accessories, cosmetics, furniture, gaming and entertainment before the end of the summer. A broader selection of advertisements is planned for before the end of 2018.