Amazon customers in dozens of U.S. cities will be able to get orders delivered in 30 minutes or less as the Amazon Now service expands from a limited pilot phase to a wide-scale commercial offering, the company announced on Tuesday.
Amazon last year began testing ultra-fast delivery in parts of Seattle and Philadelphia and currently offers it in nine countries, including the United Arab Emirates. The service essentially competes with DoorDash, Instacart and Uber Eats, which have expanded beyond food delivery into merchandise, as well as Walmart.
Amazon Now operates out of strategically located, urban micro-fulfillment centers, where on-demand workers will pick up packaged orders. The facilities are about the size of a Walgreens retail outlet, stock about 3,500 fresh grocery, personal care products, electronics and household items. The centers position essential products close to neighborhoods and work districts, utilizing advanced inventory systems that optimize product selection based on hyperlocal demand to maximize efficiency and speed. They also reduce the distance delivery associates need to travel and enable faster delivery times.
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