AWS IoT Button – Clickbait or Click-fortune?

Recently, Amazon opened their Dash technology to developers, providing an easy way of programming the simple, small, internet connected AWS IoT buttons, and tying them to an AWS cloud backend. Here, we compile ways this technology could be used at the enterprise level.

The mainstreaming of IoT: true industry disruption, or a click bait gimmick? Amazon has recently started shipping the 2^nd generation of the AWS IoT Button – the developer platform of their consumer product “Dash,” small internet-connected devices that allow home users to easily order products like laundry soap with the push of a button. The idea being, you stick one in your laundry room or pantry and when you notice you’re low on a favorite product, push the button, and “BAM” two days later, you have a refill.

Amazon now has over 250 products available via the Dash platform, and recently, opened their Dash technology to developers, providing an easy way of programming these simple, small, internet connected buttons and tying them to an AWS cloud backend.¹ I logged on to my AWS account and quickly (like 10 minutes quickly) set up the device with the simple “hello world” template provided. It was cool, but what could I really do? I took the button home over the weekend and reprogrammed it to send SMS messages using AWS SNS. One click sends my wife a text saying, “I’m running late,” two clicks sends my son a text saying “Call me back,” and a long press sends my wife a text saying, ”I’m on my way home!”. I used Node.js and the process was easy and fast, a great little afternoon project. What does this mean for us at Vectorform though?

“One thing we can say for sure is what this technology does accomplish is mainstreaming the concept of IoT. It normalizes the notion of the connected world.”

At Vectorform, we’re Inventors, tinkerers, disruptors. I started jotting down ways this technology could be used at the enterprise level. How could it increase efficiency, how could it streamline a work flow, and how could it cause a disruption?

Field technicians could quickly alert dispatch about a problem or moving on to the next call
Assembly line workers could request additional parts or specifications
Corporate facilities management could track inventory requests throughout a complex
Meeting rooms could be prepared, and video and conference calls could be started and stopped
Start up and shut down routines could be automated through a series of sequenced services

But can it do these tasks better or more efficiently than a current system? Does it really solve a business problem, or open doors to a new way of doing business? That remains to be seen.

What this technology accomplishes is mainstreaming the concept of IoT. It normalizes the notion of the connected world. Amazon’s inexpensive, simple, easy to get, easy to use AWS IoT button puts the idea of “…at the touch of a button” on 21^st century footing – and that my friends, isn’t just clickbait.

For more information on AWS IoT and how it could transform your business, contact us!