Amazon is said to be developing smart eyeglasses designed to assist its delivery drivers, aiming to optimize the last stage of the package delivery process, Reuters is reporting.
According to anonymous sources familiar with the initiative, these high-tech glasses will provide real-time navigation and guidance, helping drivers locate destinations, maneuver around buildings, and avoid obstacles.
The new glasses, which are currently under development, would feature a small display embedded in one lens. This display would give drivers turn-by-turn directions, helping them navigate streets, sidewalks, and even specific building layouts.
For instance, when delivering to high-rise buildings or apartments, the glasses would guide drivers through elevators and hallways, directing them past barriers like gates or even alerting them to aggressive dogs. This hands-free solution could save valuable time, shaving off seconds with each delivery.
Given that Amazon delivers millions of packages daily, these seconds quickly add up. The smart glasses could help drivers complete their routes faster and carry more packages without needing to constantly refer to handheld GPS devices.
Amazon’s move comes as part of a larger strategy to reduce its shipping expenses, which rose to $23.5 billion in the third quarter alone—a significant increase of 8%. By introducing these glasses, Amazon hopes to streamline the “last mile” of deliveries, a notoriously expensive and complex stage of the delivery process.
Amazon’s interest in fine-tuning the delivery process is not new. In October, the company introduced a scanner installed on delivery van ceilings to help drivers identify the correct packages at each stop. The system uses a green spotlight to highlight the package for the specific stop, significantly reducing time spent reading labels.
The company’s biggest rival, Walmart, has also been aggressively expanding its e-commerce capabilities and has introduced various incentives for its delivery drivers, particularly during the holiday season.
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