Amazon's "glasses + robotic arm" combination directly addresses logistics pain points! Morgan Stanley: $4 billion in cost savings by 2027

According to Zhitong Finance APP, Amazon (AMZN.US) officially disclosed its latest progress in accelerating delivery services through technological innovation at the annual "Delivering the Future" logistics event held at its headquarters in Seattle. Amazon has shifted user expectations from two-day delivery to same-day delivery, and even one-hour delivery, continuously compressing delivery times for each order. Currently, the company is leveraging technologies such as robots, artificial intelligence, and smart wearable devices to further reduce delivery times. As the second-largest private employer in the United States, Amazon's moves are seen as a barometer for the industry. Morgan Stanley analysts estimated in a report on Wednesday that the promotion of automated warehouses, combined with cost reductions, could save Amazon up to $4 billion by 2027.

The event showcased for the first time the smart glasses "Amelia," designed specifically for delivery drivers. This internally coded device is equipped with a micro-display that can provide real-time route guidance, scan package barcodes, and automatically take photos to retain delivery proof, replacing the inconvenience of traditional handheld GPS devices.

Its unique advantage lies in providing precise navigation prompts, such as directional guidance after leaving an apartment elevator or path suggestions to avoid dogs at customers' homes. The glasses need to work in conjunction with a paired controller on the driver's vest and address battery life issues through a replaceable battery pack.

Amazon's Vice President of Transportation, Beryl Tome, emphasized that hundreds of drivers have tested this device on actual delivery routes, with preliminary data showing that some drivers can save up to 30 minutes of operational time on specific shifts, reducing the need for handheld device management and enhancing driving safety.

She also stated that the device is currently in the experimental phase, and drivers and their contracted companies can voluntarily choose to use it, with Amazon providing it free of charge to users. The specific promotion plan is still being dynamically adjusted.

Amazon is focusing on the "last 100 yards"—the most expensive and time-consuming final delivery segment. The delivery vehicle scanner launched last year has guided drivers to quickly locate packages using a green spotlight, saving label recognition time; the digital map showcased in June this year provides more detailed community building outlines and obstacle information than Google Maps.

Additionally, the event featured the robotic arm "Blue Jay," which collaborates with warehouse employees. This device has been put into use in a warehouse in South Carolina, reducing the risk of injury in manual operations and taking up less space than similar robots that previously required three separate workstations. It will be prioritized for deployment at sites supporting same-day delivery services in the coming months.

The newly released Blue Jay system consists of a series of robotic arms suspended on a conveyor belt track, equipped with suction cup devices that allow it to grasp and sort items of various shapes and sizes. According to tests in the South Carolina warehouse, Blue Jay can handle approximately 75% of the types of goods stored at the site.

The rapid development of Blue Jay itself reflects technological advancements. Thanks to the application of artificial intelligence and "digital twin" simulation technology, the system took just over a year from concept to production, whereas earlier robotic systems (such as Robin and Sparrow) typically required three years or more The system is the latest member of Amazon's robot family, following the company's previous launches of robots responsible for different tasks such as picking items from shelves and sorting packages. In May of this year, Amazon also released a robot system called "Vulcan" that features tactile capabilities. Amazon's automation process largely began with the acquisition of Kiva Systems for $775 million in 2012. Today, the financial benefits of this long-term strategy are increasingly evident.

In terms of warehouse intelligent management systems, Amazon plans to first deploy artificial intelligence systems in its Tennessee warehouse to prevent operational delays such as traffic congestion through real-time analysis of on-site data, gradually expanding this to its entire warehouse network. Chief Technology Officer Tye Brady noted that the system will empower operators to make daily planning decisions, but specific deployment details have not yet been disclosed.

It is noteworthy that after expanding the scale of warehouse robot deployment, Amazon is expected to reduce hiring by 160,000 employees in the United States over the next two years. However, the company also stated that it plans to hire 250,000 temporary employees for the upcoming holiday season.

Amazon's stock price fell 1.8% on Wednesday, closing at $217.95, making it the only company among the "seven major tech stocks" to see a cumulative decline in stock price this year