This post is not necessarily a trend but more likely a possibility based on an observation about a particular trend that I've been watching over a long period of time. I think at this time everybody is aware that Amazon has become the online leader for purchasing goods and services for many people. In fact, many of the brick-and-mortar stores that have gone to online services are having a difficult time keeping up with the vast number of materials and services that Amazon provides. However there remains one big problem in providing those materials and services to the owners who have ordered from Amazon.
We have all seen the many UPS trucks, FedEx trucks, DSL trucks, and others delivering packages to either us or a neighbor. These delivery trucks are certainly ubiquitous and have become a part of the scenery as we go through our day. Certainly even thieves, know the comings and goings of all these trucks and try to intercept and steal these packages. But my question in this post entry is whether or not is likely that we will ever see an Amazon truck replacing UPS or any of the other delivery services? And although it seems like a very heavy lift to me, it is possible that Amazon's widening tentacles are in a position to make this move over some period of time. The reason I referred to this as a heavy lift is simply that UPS and many others not only have trucks but they have airplanes, cars, trains, and other conveyances to move materials across the United States and indeed the world. So for Amazon to start from scratch would be difficult but certainly not impossible. A big part of their problem right now is the cost of shipping using these other carriers and even with prime they are running very close to the margins on profit.
In the past few years it has been stated that Amazon would like to use a multi-copter in order to deliver materials to customers.(Please don't call these drones). But even this method of delivery seems like a long shot at the very best and not readily possible at the worst. Quite incidentally, Amazon received a US patent to use small parachutes to drop products from multi-copters. US 9,663,234.
One thing to consider is that UPS has had since the 1920s the ability to deliver items by truck. They have had a remarkable amount of time to build up the infrastructure to supply the nation with a reasonably rapid delivery system. And the key to this, is in the distribution centers. But here is the caveat that has me interested: Amazon has been building distribution centers around the country and they are stocked with all of their products! That is a powerful incentive to deliver by the use of Amazon trucks. They already use Amazon flex that delivers time-sensitive products by private drivers.
This post may suggest that I am ahead of the curve or terribly wrong so if you see an Amazon truck please let me know. I really don't want to be terribly wrong!
We have all seen the many UPS trucks, FedEx trucks, DSL trucks, and others delivering packages to either us or a neighbor. These delivery trucks are certainly ubiquitous and have become a part of the scenery as we go through our day. Certainly even thieves, know the comings and goings of all these trucks and try to intercept and steal these packages. But my question in this post entry is whether or not is likely that we will ever see an Amazon truck replacing UPS or any of the other delivery services? And although it seems like a very heavy lift to me, it is possible that Amazon's widening tentacles are in a position to make this move over some period of time. The reason I referred to this as a heavy lift is simply that UPS and many others not only have trucks but they have airplanes, cars, trains, and other conveyances to move materials across the United States and indeed the world. So for Amazon to start from scratch would be difficult but certainly not impossible. A big part of their problem right now is the cost of shipping using these other carriers and even with prime they are running very close to the margins on profit.
In the past few years it has been stated that Amazon would like to use a multi-copter in order to deliver materials to customers.(Please don't call these drones). But even this method of delivery seems like a long shot at the very best and not readily possible at the worst. Quite incidentally, Amazon received a US patent to use small parachutes to drop products from multi-copters. US 9,663,234.
One thing to consider is that UPS has had since the 1920s the ability to deliver items by truck. They have had a remarkable amount of time to build up the infrastructure to supply the nation with a reasonably rapid delivery system. And the key to this, is in the distribution centers. But here is the caveat that has me interested: Amazon has been building distribution centers around the country and they are stocked with all of their products! That is a powerful incentive to deliver by the use of Amazon trucks. They already use Amazon flex that delivers time-sensitive products by private drivers.
This post may suggest that I am ahead of the curve or terribly wrong so if you see an Amazon truck please let me know. I really don't want to be terribly wrong!
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