During its decade of robotics innovation, Amazon has launched more than 520,000 robotic power units in fulfillment and sorting centers.
The technology has fueled the omnichannel retailer’s success in providing same-day and next-day delivery, according to a TechCrunch report.
The 10-year mark in robotics comes just a week after Amazon announced it was launching drone delivery in California, marking the first retail drone debut in the US.
From Kiva to fully autonomous mobile robots and everything in between, technology has helped Amazon improve the employee and customer experience.
It’s been ten years of Amazon discovery. In 2012, we made a major investment in improving productivity in the supply chain by acquiring the robotics company Kiva. Back then, we had some automation in our distribution centers, but the Kiva acquisition was a big bet in predicting the role innovation would play in meeting our customers’ needs while making work safer, easier and more productive for employees. It was a bold move and changed our business.
There has been speculation that Amazon is replacing humans with robots. But after 10 years, the facts tell a different story. We have more than 520,000 robotic power units and have created more than a million jobs worldwide. We have more than a dozen other types of robotic systems at our facilities around the world, including sorting centers and aerial hubs. Since the early days of the Kiva acquisition, our vision has never been tied to a binary decision of people or technology. Instead, it was about people and technology working together safely and harmoniously to deliver for our customers. This vision remains to this day.
Ten years have flown by, but the only constant has been our drive to improve the experience of our employees and customers. What started as an interesting acquisition has grown into a dedicated team of roboticists, engineers, software developers, ergonomics specialists and other experts who have revolutionized our operation. Our devices are safer and more collaborative than ever, playing an integral role in delivering the products our customers want, when and where they want them. And what’s really exciting is that some of our most innovative work is yet to come – our next decade of discovery is just beginning.
