.png){kind=logo}
Amazon.com Inc. has introduced a new artificial intelligence tool aimed at streamlining the package delivery process for its drivers. This AI-driven technology, called Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR), is designed to help drivers quickly locate the correct packages within their vans at each stop, reducing the time spent rummaging through crowded cargo areas.
VAPR utilizes advanced computer-vision technology that was initially developed in Amazon's warehouses. This system identifies products without the need for barcode scanners and has now been adapted for use in the confined spaces of delivery vans.
The new tool projects a green circle on packages meant to be delivered at a stop and red Xs on those intended for later deliveries. This visual cue enables drivers to simply "grab and go," cutting down on the time spent sorting through packages.
Amazon announced this development at a media event in Nashville focused on the company’s logistics and online shopping operations. VAPR has been in development since 2020 and is set to be deployed in 1,000 delivery vans next year. The tool is expected to reduce the typical delivery route time by around 30 minutes, the company said.
According to Amazon, this new system will eliminate the need for delivery drivers to manually organize packages, check labels, or confirm customer details such as names and addresses. Instead, drivers can rely on VAPR’s green light system to quickly identify the correct packages. "This will make the process faster and simpler, allowing drivers to focus on getting deliveries completed more efficiently," Amazon said in a statement.
This new AI tool is part of Amazon’s broader shift in priorities under the leadership of CEO Andy Jassy, who took over from founder Jeff Bezos in 2021. Jassy has focused on practical, near-term initiatives that can help reduce costs and improve efficiency, contrasting with Bezos' more ambitious and long-term projects like autonomous delivery drones, which are still in the testing phase.
Jassy’s approach aims to streamline Amazon's low-margin e-commerce business, making it more attractive to Wall Street investors by trimming operational costs. Amazon’s network of small businesses, which operate 100,000 vans and employ around 390,000 drivers, forms the backbone of its delivery operations. By reducing delivery times with the VAPR tool, Amazon can minimize the costs it pays to these delivery service partners, who typically hire drivers on an hourly basis.
At the same event, Amazon revealed several other initiatives designed to enhance its logistics and customer experience. These include:
1. AI Shopping Guides: An AI-powered tool to help customers research over 100 product types, such as televisions, dog food, headphones, and face moisturizers.
2. Next-Generation Fulfillment Center: A new facility in Shreveport, Louisiana, that will use AI and robotics to assist workers in picking and packing orders more efficiently.
3. Expansion of Same-Day Prescription Delivery: By next year, Amazon plans to extend its same-day prescription drug delivery service to almost half of the US, further enhancing its e-commerce offerings.
Through these AI-driven initiatives, Amazon continues to push the boundaries of automation and efficiency in its delivery and fulfillment operations.
