Cheaper, Faster, Better: Logistics in the Era of Autonomous Vehicles
Tangible benefits for business operations and consumers alike
July 4, 2031:
“I think our microwave is broken.” John tapped a few buttons, then turned to his wife, Karen, who put on her most patient smile. “Did you turn it off and on again?” “Yeah, yeah, very funny,” John retorted. Damn, just in time to ruin lunch. He’d have to fend for himself in the meantime, but maybe he could replace it before their friends came over for fireworks? “Alexa, order us a new GE microwave.”
Instantly, Amazon’s warehouse receives the order and launches into a flurry of motion. Autonomous robots query the warehouse database and set off for the section and aisle where John and Karen’s new microwave sat waiting. The unit, already packaged, is picked up by a Kiva robot and routed to a staging area. A single Amazon employee oversees the transfer of goods from the warehouse to a van — driverless, of course. It navigates to John and Karen’s neighborhood and parks at a central location, whereupon a dozen autonomous delivery drones begin delivering all the packages local residents ordered that morning.
The system pings John’s account, notifying him that his delivery is waiting outside. Not even three hours after placing the order, John and…
