Snapchat working on a camera-assisted shopping feature on Android
An app researcher named Ishan Agarwal has spotted a code in Snapchat for Android that hints at the photo-sharing app working on turning its camera into a visual search engine. The unreleased feature will reportedly allow users to carry out camera-assisted shopping on Snapchat. According to the hidden Snapchat code, the app's camera would be able to identify objects, songs, and even barcodes.
Snapchat will link users to Amazon listings
Users will click a picture of an object using Snapchat's camera and the app will then send that data to companies like Amazon and Shazam. On finding a match, the app would pull up a list of sellers of that product along with its reviews. The visual search engine is like Google Lens except that object identification will be done via third-party integrations.
The feature might be called Camera Search
Users will be able to copy the Amazon link and share it with their friends on Snapchat. Notably, if the app is not able to identify the product, it would say, "Bummer, we didn't catch that!" While Snapchat has not confirmed the feature yet, it could truly help in bringing object recognition technology to the forefront through the app's cross-platform support.
A way for Snapchat to monetize its camera
The feature will also allow Snapchat to use Amazon referral links which means it can get a cut of every purchase made through its camera. This will also help the app get more advertisers since sales via social media platforms are much more organic and don't necessarily happen through traditional marketing techniques. Notably, Snapchat reported a net loss of $385 million in Q1.
Snapchat already has in-app integration with Shazam
In 2016, Snapchat rolled out a Shazam-based song finding functionality. As for the in-app shopping element, the company "might tie into an existing context cards system that pulls up relevant information."
