Build an Alexa Built-in Speaker, Soundbar, or AVR

An Alexa Built-in (ABI) product gives customers hands-free voice control for multi-room music streaming, calling and messaging, alerts, and other core Alexa behaviors. Since smart speakers, soundbars, and audio/video receivers (AVRs) are considered headless, meaning the device typically doesn't have a screen, you'll also develop a mobile companion app (iOS or Android) for customer setup.

In this document, you'll learn the high-level steps and resources to concept, prototype, build, and launch a smart speaker with microphones, leveraging the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) through the AVS Device SDK.

• Understand the AVS product requirements
• Get the AVS Device SDK
• Choose a hardware development kit
• Follow our product development guidance
• Integrate new features
• Need help?

Understand the AVS product requirements

Customers expect all Alexa Built-in products to deliver a consistent and high-quality Alexa experience. To set this bar, the Alexa Voice Service (AVS) team at Amazon provides functional, design, security, and legal requirements and recommendations. Follow them from concept to QA to streamline your path to certification.

• Get to know the Functional Requirements for speakers with mics, which describe how your product is expected to work
• Follow our Security Requirements to ensure customer privacy and trust
• Comply with the Alexa Voice Service Program terms and agreements

Get the AVS Device SDK

To dramatically reduce development time, most Alexa Built-in products should leverage the AVS Device SDK, then extend and customize the core Alexa features and functions as needed. Almost all Echo device features are included or supported with the SDK, and AVS continuously adds new Alexa capabilities.

The AVS Device SDK provides the software interface for your device through C++-based libraries that leverage and expose the AVS APIs. It's modular and abstracted, allowing you to customize it, extend it, and implement the components needed for your unique product. Also, did we mention it's free?

First, build the sample app— See the AVS Device SDK in action with a quick prototype. Use it to define your customer use cases, desired features, and hardware requirements.

1. Create a developer account
2. Learn to set up your product profile
3. To build a prototype with a Raspberry Pi, read the tutorial or watch the video

Don't have access to a Pi? We have quick start guides for Ubuntu Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Choose a hardware development kit

Kick off development of a commercial device with a reference solution for Alexa Built-in products. These audio front-end (AFE) and single-chip-solution development kits were built with voice in mind, reducing cost and accelerating the integration process. Select the kit that matches the number of mics, mic arrangement, and audio algorithms your product needs.

• Understand typical Audio Hardware Configurations
• Shop Hardware Development Kits
• Provide the Recommended Media Support

Follow our product development guidance

UX Design Guides— Our AVS UX guidance goes beyond audio/visual cues and on-device buttons. From branding and packaging to companion app design – your product's end-to-end experience should be familiar and natural for customers.

• Read the UX requirements and recommendations Overview
• Learn more about UX Design for Speakers, Soundbars, and AVRs
• Design a Companion App Experience to work with your product

Features and Functions— Some core Alexa behaviors require the integration of additional binary libraries or software functions beyond the core AVS Device SDK.

• Access Login with Amazon (LWA) to let customers Authorize from a Companion App
• Maintain and Manage an HTTP/2 Connection with AVS
• Include an audio front-end (AFE) for hands-free interactions with Cloud-based Wake Word Verification
• Add the Multi-room Music Extension to allow grouping with other devices
• Add Alexa Communications features

Not using the AVS Device SDK, or want to customize and extend features like Alerts and Notifications? Read our Feature Guides and API Reference docs for details on each interface.

Testing and Certification Guides— Commercially distributed products must meet all AVS product requirements. To validate these requirements, our testing and certification process is broken into self-testing (you test your device), and Amazon testing (we test your device). These guides are designed to help your product streamline testing and pass certification.

• Learn our Product Testing Process
• Conduct your own Self-testing
• Use our Acoustic Testing Guides
• Learn to submit for Amazon testing and undergo a security assessment
• Check your certification status in the Developer Console

Marketing Guides— Teach your customers about Alexa through promotional materials and advertising. We cover requirements for press releases, packaging, retail fixtures, websites, crowdfunding sites, Amazon product detail page content, and videos.

• Use approved messaging and assets with our Marketing and Branding Guidelines
• Promote your product with the Alexa Built-in Badge
• Explore opportunities for Marketing on Amazon.com

Integrate new features

As you build, test, launch, and update your device, we are also working to improve our services. We continuously release new features and functions, product development guidance, updated requirements, and a more streamlined path to certification. You may be required to implement certain changes before and after launching your device.

Monitor our Release Notes for actionable updates.

Need help?

Submit your questions, comments, and issues to the AVS Knowledge Base and Forum. We actively monitor and respond to developer feedback and concerns.