The Dash Button was a small physical device manufactured by Amazon that was launched on the market in 2015. It was the size of a keychain, had a switch, and connected to the home's Wi-Fi network.
Its objective was to facilitate the purchase and replenishment of certain recurring and low-risk products at home, such as diapers, detergents, coffee, toilet paper, snacks... By simply pressing the switch, the order was placed directly on Amazon.
The process of purchasing recurring products was greatly streamlined, since it was not necessary to open the application or enter the Amazon website.
However, Amazon stopped offering the Dash Button in 2019, as by then it had already become an unnecessary tool compared to other quick purchasing options. The main reason for discarding it completely was the popularization of Alexa, which allows shopping using voice commands from smart speakers and other equipment and is not limited to specific simple products.
In addition, many smart devices currently integrate the “Dash Replenishment Services” function, which is used to automatically replenish resources in connected homes.
Thanks to this, they can request replenishment. For example, printers can order ink, washing machines purchase detergent on their own, refrigerators can scan and purchase whatever they need, and more.
How the Amazon Dash Button worked
To use the buy button, you needed to meet some basic requirements. For example, it was necessary to have an Amazon account with a confirmed address and approved payment methods, as well as have an Amazon Prime subscription to have fast and free shipping and have a mobile phone with the Amazon application installed to configure the Dash Button correctly at home.
After meeting the requirements, you could configure the button in your home. To do this, you needed to open the Amazon app, enter the "Dash Button" section, activate it, and then press and hold the physical button for a few seconds, until the LED light started flashing. Then, from the app you had to select your Wi-Fi network, enter the password and link the Dash Button to the network.
Finally, once the button was linked, the Amazon application showed you a catalog of compatible products and you only had to choose the one you wanted to associate. When finished, you had to confirm the shipping address and payment method to activate the button and direct order.
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