With 60% of Americans using the voice-activated concierge service on their smartphone every day, people are growing accustomed to the idea of interacting with a virtual assistant. Tapping into the trend, Amazon has launched a smart speaker that acts like a home assistant.

Continuing the attempt to branch out into every possible sector and industry, November 2014 saw Amazon announce a platform for customers to order local takeaway food. Launching initially in Seattle, the company expects to roll the service out across the US in 2015.

Seen an AllSaints leather jacket that you just have to have for tomorrow night, but can't get to a store? For the first time since launching the Amazon Prime programme in 2005, the retail giant is offering members free, next-day shipping on purchases they make on AllSaints.com.

Ever at the forefront of innovation, Amazon has announced that orders made over the 2014 festive period might be picked and packed by robots not people. With people expected to spend over £1 million every three minutes, the robots will have their work cut out for them.