Amazon’s promise of two-day delivery has been a game-changer, propelling the online giant to massive success. Recently, Amazon reported even faster delivery times in early 2024, achieving record speeds. As of March, nearly 60% of Prime orders in the largest U.S. cities and three out of four items in London, Tokyo, and Toronto were delivered the same or next day. Globally, over two billion items reached Prime customers within a day.
These improvements stem from Amazon’s strategy to localize storage, setting up many small regional warehouses that anticipate customer orders. This setup allowed 76% of orders in 2023 to be shipped locally, reducing the need for cross-country transport. This includes “Same-Day facilities” in major urban centers, stocked with a limited range of products for quicker access.
However, these efficiency gains are not without significant drawbacks. Amazon has faced criticism and legal issues over workplace safety. The U.S. Department of Labor has repeatedly cited Amazon for safety violations in multiple states, noting high injury rates among warehouse and delivery workers. Issues such as unsafe lifting practices and extended work hours have been problematic.
Moreover, past incidents have raised serious concerns about Amazon’s commitment to worker safety. For instance, six workers died in an Illinois Amazon facility during a tornado in 2021, with questions remaining about the timeliness of safety warnings.
While Amazon continues to streamline its delivery process, this speed comes at the expense of worker safety. As consumers, we might reconsider our delivery choices, perhaps opting for scheduled Amazon Day deliveries or exploring other retailers, to not implicitly support these practices.
