Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has tied up with Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) to help its users order products through replying to product related tweets, according to Bloomberg. Unlike the other times when China follows the ideas from the West, Silicon Valley seems to have borrowed an idea from the Orient nation this time, which is use of social network platform for placing orders.
Orders A Tweet Away
Under the new facility, Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) users can place a product in their cart by simply replying to the Amazon related product tweets with hashtag #AmazonCart. The users will have to first link their Twitter account with their Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) account and once linked, users can start placing products in their cart. The users can later make the final purchases listed in their cart. The British Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR) users, who are not accustomed to the word ‘cart’, have the option to reply tweet with hashtag #AmazonBasket in order to have their orders placed.
This is one of the several ways which Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is exploring to increase their online reach. While there is no official information available about the terms of the tie-up between Amazon and Twitter, it is believed that Amazon can eventually step up its spending on Twitter ads, according to Bloomberg. An Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) representative, Julie Law commented that their goal is not to focus on competition, but rather be laser focussed on facilitating its customers with best discovery and shopping experience on Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR).
Leaf Out Of China’s Page
The strategy is much a replica of what China’s largest microblogging site, Sina Weibo had initiated two years back. Reportedly, Weibo and Alibaba had joined forces then, to offer its users merchandize on the country’s largest e-commerce site, Taobao Marketplace. The success has apparently led the two giant Chinese tech companies to collaborate. Moreover, Alibaba even invested close to $586 million in Sina Weibo in 2013, after which the companies have placed a ‘Buy’ option underneath links to Taobao products available on Weibo. The microblogging site even gives its users an option to pay through Alipay accounts that they use on Alibaba. Weibo derived 43% of its revenues from Alibaba during the holidays, as per a Bloomberg report.
