Amazon has deployed its one millionth robot across its global network at the Amazon Fulfilment Centre in Tokyo – the same robots already in use in the Amazon Fulfilment Centres in Australia.
Amazon also plans to increase its investment in Australia with a $30m pledge to create new delivery station technology.
The robots used in Amazon fulfilment centres perform a number of tasks from processing, carrying, packaging and labelling items and assisting the thousands of frontline human employees in Amazon centres around the world.
The fleet of robots is powered by a new software platform called DeepFleet which uses AI to transform the robotic fleet through the fulfilment centre.
It uses AI to coordinate the traffic and plan paths for robots across Amazon’s entire network and anticipates choke points and idle time to improve efficiency by as much as 10 per cent.
TAKE A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE AMAZON FULFILMENT CENTRE IN TOKYO
It was built using the data gathered from its current operations and through machine learning it finds ways to improve.
For Amazon, smarter robots and faster delivery results in lower costs.
Meanwhile, Amazon plans to invest more than $30m in Australia in next generation delivery station technology before the end of the year to make it easier and faster for packages to reach their destinations.
This is on top of the $5bn Amazon has already spent on infrastructure and wages for local employees.
The continued investment will be directed to the construction of delivery stations – hubs that power the last mile of the order fulfilment process.
The investment includes new Tipper technology which can automatically unload packages into conveyor belts and saving employees from physical strain.
Another technology is Auto Divert to Aisle (ADTA) which presents packages to employees at more ergonomic heights.
These investment show Amazon’s deep commitment to improve workplace safety and accessibility.
There are already delivery stations in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gosford, Newcastle, Geelong and the Gold Coast.
Packages are shipped to these sites before being processed and loaded into vehicles to deliver to customers.
These last mile operations are supported by Delivery Service Partners (DSP), Delivery Associates (DA) who work for them along with Amazon Flex Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) and third party carriers.
These last mile operations have been in place in Australia for seven years in 12 locations and allows Amazon to offer enhances delivery outcomes for customers which now included re-attempted deliveries and weekend deliveries.
This has enabled faster deliveries to customers now offering Prime members Prime Free Same Day in Sydney and Perth, and Prime Free One Day in Melbourne, Brisbane, Geelong, Gosford, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra, Gold Coast, Blue Mountains and Mornington Peninsula.
Two more delivery stations are due to open in Australia later this year including the $7m site in Ravenhall, Victoria that will employ more than 200 people.
The second site in Western Sydney is expected to open by the end of the year before Christmas.
*Stephen Fenech travelled to Tokyo as a guest of Amazon
