Amazon Unveils Plans for Advanced Robotics Hub in North Carolina

Quick Overview:

• Amazon is set to launch a new robotics fulfillment center in Wilmington, North Carolina, with an expected opening date in 2026, as announced in a press release on March 12.
• The facility will occupy a massive 650,000 square foot site and boast over 3 million square feet of operational space spread across four and a half stories. Construction kicked off last fall.
• “North Carolina has shown itself to be an excellent location for Amazon’s operations, allowing us to enhance our service for customers in the area,” stated Holly Sullivan, Amazon’s VP of worldwide economic development.

Key Takeaways:

During Amazon’s Q4 earnings call in February, CEO Andy Jassy emphasized the company’s commitment to enhancing cost efficiency within its fulfillment network. This focus comes as Amazon transitions towards a more regionalized model for its operations.

Back in October, Jassy highlighted that the company is implementing “hundreds of changes” across its inbound fulfillment centers with the goal of redistributing inventory by 25% year-over-year.

A notable part of this conversion involves embracing robotics and automation technologies aimed at reducing costs while boosting productivity. As a notable example, after successfully integrating robotic systems into their Houston facility earlier this year, they opened another robotics-focused center in Shreveport, Louisiana.

“Our extensive integration of robotics into our fulfillment processes over recent years has led to notable savings and improvements not just in productivity but also safety,” Jassy remarked during his address.

The company intends to keep pouring resources into robotic innovations throughout both its fulfillment and transportation networks. “this is going to be an ongoing journey that spans several years,” he added thoughtfully.