Amazon Announces Plans to Extend Drone Delivery Services to the UK and Italy in 2024

By Grant Simms

The Seattle-based giant in e-commerce has revealed plans to extend its drone delivery service for specific purchases to a third US state and two European countries by the conclusion of 2024.

Amazon’s current drone delivery operations are active in California and Texas, with the introduction of the new MK30 model designed to handle more extreme weather conditions. Amazon Prime Air Vice President David Carbon made this announcement during a recent marketing event.

Highlighting the increasing demand for faster deliveries, Prime AI Director of Engineering Jason Patrao expressed confidence that the drone program, although currently small, will become a familiar and integral aspect of the company’s operations.

In addition to the drone expansion, Amazon has implemented a new robotics system named Sequoia at one of its Texas logistics centers. The system integrates automated vehicles, gantry cranes, mechanical arms, computer vision technologies, and ergonomic workstations for employees, as indicated in a presentation.

While Amazon already utilizes 750,000 robots in its warehouses, the objective is to enhance interoperability among various machines, according to company executives. Amazon Robotics Chief Technologist Tye Brady emphasized the magical outcome when blending multiple robotics systems with the efforts of human employees.

Sequoia, with its ability to identify and store warehouse stock up to 75 percent faster than previous methods, has proven to be a significant advancement. The system can also reduce order processing time by 25 percent in optimal scenarios, allowing for quicker listing of items on sale on Amazon.com.

Although traditional brick-and-mortar stores still constitute about 80 percent of retail business, the convenience of fast delivery is expected to drive more sales online. Analysts suggest that the improvement in delivery services contributes to the overall growth of the e-commerce market and solidifies Amazon’s position within it.

Amazon became a crucial resource for many during the pandemic, serving as a lifeline for online shopping needs. However, the company is now facing new competition from Chinese e-commerce apps such as Temu and Shein, which have gained popularity with their competitive pricing strategies.

Insider Intelligence analyst Andrew Lipsman noted, “The better they get at delivery, the more it continues to grow the e-commerce market overall and Amazon’s place within that market.” Recognizing the aggressive competition from Temu, Lipsman suggested that Amazon likely harbors some level of concern given the latter’s dedication to logistics and delivering cost-effective goods to consumers.