Amazon just turned its Echo screens into full-blown shopping command centers. The retail giant rolled out new Alexa+ features today that transform Echo Show devices into interactive shopping hubs, complete with real-time delivery tracking, personalized gift recommendations, and the ability to add items to orders until they leave the warehouse. It's Amazon's latest push to finally get people buying through voice assistants.
Amazon has been fighting an uphill battle for years. Despite selling millions of Echo smart speakers, studies consistently show that only about 2% of users actually buy things through Alexa. But the company isn't backing down – it's doubling down with a major Alexa+ upgrade that transforms Echo screens into full shopping dashboards.
Starting today, owners of Echo Show 15 and 21 devices in the U.S. and Canada can access what Amazon calls the "Shopping Essentials" experience. This isn't just another voice feature – it's a complete visual shopping interface that tracks your deliveries in real time, shows recent order details, reminds you about household essentials that need reordering, and displays your shopping lists and saved items all in one place.
The timing feels strategic. With holiday shopping in full swing, Amazon is betting that visual interfaces might crack the voice commerce code where audio-only interactions failed. Users can now tap directly on their Echo screens to browse products, add items to cart, and complete purchases without ever speaking a command.
To activate the new hub, users simply say "Alexa, where's my stuff?" or "Open Shopping Essentials." Amazon plans to add a dedicated shopping widget to Echo home screens soon, making the feature even more accessible. The company has also integrated voice shortcuts that feel more natural than previous attempts – you can describe who you're shopping for or mention an occasion, and Alexa+ will display categorized gift suggestions on screen.
Perhaps most interesting is the new last-minute addition feature. Customers can now add items to upcoming deliveries right up until packages leave Amazon's warehouses. While this capability already exists on Amazon's website and mobile app, bringing it to voice devices could change how people think about impulse purchases and forgotten essentials.
The rollout builds on Amazon's existing automated shopping features within Alexa+. The AI assistant already offers deal tracking that alerts users when cart items hit target prices, and can automatically purchase those items if customers opt in. These features represent Amazon's attempt to make Alexa+ more proactive about shopping rather than just reactive to commands.
