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Questions and Answers
What technology does Amazon's smart warehouses use to predict customer purchases?
Which robot model has Amazon introduced to its operations for improved efficiency and heavier load lifting?
What percentage increase in stock holding capacity did Amazon achieve with the introduction of Kiva robots?
What is the name of the in-house game at Amazon that workers play to increase productivity?
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What is the in-house currency Amazon uses to reward hard work with branded merchandise?
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What edge did Amazon gain by rebranding Kiva as Amazon Robotics and restricting other companies from accessing this technology?
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How many robots can be deployed in Amazon's warehouses at a time to help with operations?
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Study Notes
- Amazon is the world's biggest retailer with CEO Jeff Bezos being the world's richest man, known for providing quick delivery times and convenience to customers.
- Amazon's smart warehouses utilize deep learning AI to predict customer purchases and stock appropriate quantities of items in local warehouses.
- Amazon's fulfillment centers are aided by an army of squat robots called Kiva, purchased in 2012, which can lift heavy loads and retrieve stock three times faster than humans.
- The Kiva robots have allowed Amazon to hold 50% more stock, reduce fulfillment costs by 40%, and significantly speed up the delivery process.
- Amazon rebranded Kiva as Amazon Robotics and restricted other companies from purchasing new Kiva technology, giving Amazon a competitive edge.
- Amazon's latest robot model, Pegasus, is more efficient and can lift heavier loads, contributing to improved sortation center operations and reduced delivery errors.
- Amazon's robots are managed by cloud-based software to optimize their routes and avoid collisions, with up to 800 robots deployed in warehouses at a time.- Amazon encourages workers to meet rates through gamification, where workers play in-house games like Picks in Space Mission Racer to increase productivity.
- Incentives such as in-house currency "Swag Bucks" reward hard work with Amazon-branded merchandise like water bottles or t-shirts.
- Amazon has faced criticism for its intense working practices, with reports of 14,000 serious injuries at Amazon sites in 2019, nearly double the industry standard.
- Despite investing tens of millions of dollars in worker safety awareness programs, injuries spike around Prime Day.
- Amazon's efficiency has been crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant increase in orders for products like toilet paper, cough medicine, and children's vitamins.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Amazon's smart warehouses, robotic technology, workforce management strategies, and the impact of efficiency on customer service. Learn about Amazon's innovative approach to logistics and fulfillment.
