There are far too many diesel-powered vans delivering parcels for residents and businesses.
In a way, Amazon has destroyed brick and mortar shoppingand now it will inhabit the corpse.
Amazon going it alone is not a sustainable solution.
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Prime Nowis Amazons fastest delivery tier.
The service launched in 2015, and is now available in many, but not all, US states.
Orders can arrive unboxed and are just handed over to you.
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To test the service, I once ordered a Kindle from a bus on my way home.
Faster, Greener
This all adds up to a win for both Amazon and the customer.
Amazon gets to move into perfect, pre-built downtown premises, and offer better service to boot.
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Better still, delivery routes will be shorter.
Ideally, this would be combined with greener delivery vehicles.
I mentioned the electric-powered trikes above, but there areother options.
In Dublin, for example,UPS is testing electric-powered handcarts, with drop-in containers full of parcels.
Once a fulfillment center is close to the customer, you no longer need gas-powered trucks and vans.
Smaller, human-powered vehicles are possible.
Currently,deliveries cause major congestionin cities, so anything that might ease that would be welcome.
Then again, it could just mean more traffic.
The loser is, as ever, the existing retail industry.
First, Amazon competed with department and big-box stores.
It also put pressure on specialist retailers like camera stores, and, of course, book stores.
Pretty much the only time I go to an actual store is if I need something right away.
The destruction of local chains and privately-owned stores is the real problem here.
To compete, RJs business ships using USPS, but even thats in trouble now.
Amazon isnt the first one to take advantage of that tendency, but its certainly the most successful.
