Cybersecurity Executive Dave Scharr said Amazon's efforts to reduce delivery time by focusing on seconds or minutes in the last mile of drivers' route "will absolutely add up in the long run."
“Everything anymore is being optimized!" Scharr said in a post on LinkedIn. "Shaving seconds off deliveries will absolutely add up in the long run!”
Amazon is developing smart eyeglasses designed to assist delivery drivers during their routes. The eyeglasses, called "Amelia," are intended to provide turn-by-turn navigation through a small screen, helping drivers navigate buildings, avoid obstacles, and reach destinations. The system may reduce the time required for each delivery, potentially lowering costs and improving delivery efficiency, according to a report from Reuters.
The eyeglasses could also allow drivers to take photographs of deliveries for customer verification, similar to technology used in Amazon's Echo Frames.
Developing a battery that can power the glasses for a full shift while remaining lightweight has presented challenges. Additionally, insiders said full data collection for mapping could take years. Amazon views the project as an important development for its logistics network.
Amazon has also worked to improve the "last mile" of its delivery process, which accounts for a significant portion of shipping costs. The company has introduced tools like ceiling-mounted scanners in delivery vans to streamline package handling, and it is expanding its focus to the "last 100 yards" of delivery.
Since 2010, Amazon has invested $28 billion in Illinois, contributing to the state's infrastructure and employee compensation, according to Amazon's Economic Impact Report. These investments have improved Illinois' GDP by $31 billion and created 40,000 full- and part-time jobs as of January 2023. Additionally, Amazon supports 50,600 indirect jobs based on the Input-Output methodology developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The company partners with over 15,000 independent sellers, primarily small and medium-sized businesses. Amazon's presence in Illinois includes 27 fulfillment and sortation centers, 16 delivery stations, one grocery hub, one air hub, 26 Whole Foods Market locations, five Amazon Go store locations, four Amazon Hub Locker+ locations, two Prime Now fulfillment centers, nine Amazon Fresh retail locations, two wind farms, six solar farms, and one on-site solar location.