Look out, brick-and-mortar retailers: Amazon is coming for you. Again. Amazon recently updated its main iOS app to include a shop-by-camera function called Flow. In the past, you could search for items you find in stores by scanning their barcodes in Amazon’s app. Flow just asks you to point your phone at something you want to buy, and it will automatically search Amazon.com for that same thing. Amazon’s been testing this feature for a couple years – it’s been featured in the standalone “Flow” app since 2012; its addition into Amazon’s main app signifies that Amazon knows it’s 100 percent ready to go. Flow can identify media package covers, as well as logos, artwork and other unique visual features. You can even scan things not in their original box. Love your friend’s headphones? Scan them with flow and they can be yours in seconds! The Flow feature isn’t out on Android just yet, but is available in Amazon’s main iOS app now – make sure your app is up-to-date and you’re free to start shopping!
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.