Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

You can now scan bar codes for your grocery list with the Amazon Echo Show

Amazon.com announced their fourth-quarter sales are up 21% to $87.4 billion and, interestingly, they revealed that people talk to Alexa billions of times per week. While Alexa’s abilities haven’t reached the billions yet, they are now one feature closer. In addition to being able to give medication reminders and order refills, order pizza, pay utility bills, and purchase fuel at more than 11,500 Exxon and Mobil stations, the smart assistant can scan, too. Now when you need to add a new item to your grocery list, you can scan the item’s bar code by holding it up in front of your Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. This new feature was announced in the What’s New with Alexa Monthly Roundup for January.

Barcode on a cookie pack
Alina Bradford/Digital Trends

To get started, all you need to do is say, “Alexa, scan this to my shopping list.” Then, just hold the bar code on the package up to the screen. Alexa may have some problems recognizing some private label products, but that isn’t a problem. You can still add the product to your list using voice commands.

When’s the best time to use the scanner skill? You’ll probably find it most useful when you’re trying to add an item that is very specific and hard to describe. It’s also a good choice when Alexa is being difficult and can’t understand your request.

This new feature will go hand-in-hand with the change that was made to Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market back in October 2019. Prime members get these services without the extra charge, giving more than 2,000 U.S. cities and towns free two-hour grocery delivery.

This isn’t the first time Alexa has been able to recognize products using an Alexa-compatible device camera. The Show and Tell feature that was rolled out in 2019 allows visually impaired users to hold up items in front of their Echo Show cameras and ask, “Alexa, what am I holding?” Once Alexa has identified an object it then announces verbally what it is. This feature can be handy for identifying medications, spices, and other items where bottles can be similar to the touch, but the contents can be very different.

Want to know about more cool Alexa skills? Here’s our list of the best Alexa skills.

Editors' Recommendations

Alina Bradford
Alina Bradford has been a tech, lifestyle and science writer for more than 20 years. Her work is read by millions each month…
Which Amazon Echo should you buy on Prime Day 2022? 
Echo Show 15 with base.

There was a time when it was easy to choose which Amazon Echo device to buy because there wasn’t much of a selection. These days, Amazon has an entire stable of devices ready to respond and carry out your commands. That makes things a bit trickier for those who are looking to pick up their first (or add another) Echo device among Prime Day Amazon Echo deals. You can also review some of the best deals year round.

We’ve tested and tried each Echo device to find the best of the lot. This year, we think it’s the Echo Show 10. With its high-quality 360-degree speaker, a large screen, and the ability to pan around the room to double as a security camera or video conferencing dynamo, it’s a great all-around choice. Even so, depending on how you want to use an Echo Show and how much space you have, there’s certainly a case to be made for other Echo devices.
Which Amazon Echo should you buy on Prime Day 2022?
Echo Dot (4th Gen)

Read more
5 reasons I still use the Echo Show 15 everyday
Amazon Echo Show 15 hanging horizontally on the wall in a kitchen.

The Echo Show 15 first released in December 2021. Much of the initial conversation around the smart display was that it was a large novelty -- a huge display that didn't have the same functionality as the Echo Show 10. It released in the midst of the work-from-home surge, and without video conferencing capabilities, the Echo Show 15 just didn't seem like it offered much.

That couldn't have been further from the truth. The large amount of screen real estate introduced a lot of utility that previous models didn't have. Widgets make it one of the most useful smart displays I've ever used, and that's saying a lot for someone who routinely works with these devices.

Read more
Alexa can now tell you when a package is delivered
Senior citizen using Alexa to stay connected

Amazon has always wanted to have Alexa become the end-all and be-all assistant. Thanks to a new update, it's one step closer. Alexa can now tell you if it sees a person or a package through one of your security cameras. Also, if you have an Echo Show or a Fire TV, Alexa can automatically pull up a live video feed of the subject.

Amazon recently allowed third-party companies to tap into this new feature by revealing a new API. As a result, companies such as Google, Ring, and Abode have already added person recognition to their video security doorbells. According to Amazon, all of Ring's video doorbells and cameras should be updated now, while Google's Nest Cam Indoor, Nest Cam Outdoor, Nest Cam Floodlight, and Nest Doorbell will receive the update soon. In addition, Abode's IOTA and Outdoor Camera will also receive the update.

Read more