Conheça o centro da distribuição inteligente da Amazon por dentro

Summary

The script highlights the growing importance of e-commerce in Brazil, with a focus on Amazon’s distribution centers. The Amazon warehouse in São João de Meriti, RJ, spans 30,000 square meters, and its operations rely heavily on technology and precise organization. Products are cataloged, stored, and picked by employees, with the system guiding the entire process. Packaging, shipping, and handling are efficiently managed to ensure timely delivery, even during peak seasons. Despite not using robots, Amazon's system helps streamline operations, ensuring that over a million products are shipped daily across Brazil, showcasing the complexity of modern e-commerce logistics.

Takeaways

• 😀 The pandemic has led to a significant increase in e-commerce, with Brazil seeing over 350 million online deliveries in the past year.
• 😀 Amazon, for example, sells 50 million different products in Brazil across more than 30 categories.
• 😀 The Amazon distribution center in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area covers 30,000 square meters, equivalent to four soccer fields.
• 😀 Amazon's distribution center in Cajamar, São Paulo, is even larger, covering nearly 60,000 square meters.
• 😀 Managing the surge in orders requires a massive physical space to store products and a highly organized system to handle orders.
• 😀 The system at Amazon’s distribution center involves two main flows: incoming products from suppliers and outgoing products to customers.
• 😀 Products are cataloged into the system as they arrive and are stored in random locations, organized only by categories like food and non-food items.
• 😀 Warehouse employees use barcodes to mark the exact location of products in the system, ensuring proper organization.
• 😀 The picking process involves employees collecting items based on the system's indications, moving products quickly to meet delivery deadlines.
• 😀 Packaging and sorting occur on different floors, with each product being weighed and checked before it's packed for delivery.
• 😀 While automation and technology are used, the majority of work at Amazon’s Brazilian distribution centers is done by humans, with no robots involved in the process.

Q & A

What is the significance of e-commerce in Brazil during the pandemic?

During the pandemic, e-commerce in Brazil saw significant growth, with over 350 million deliveries of online purchases in the past year. This highlights the growing reliance on online shopping in Brazil.

How many products does Amazon sell in Brazil and across how many categories?

Amazon sells 50 million different products in Brazil, spread across more than 30 categories.

What is the size of the Amazon distribution center in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area?

The Amazon distribution center in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area spans 30,000 square meters, which is equivalent to four football fields.

What is the role of technology and information systems in Amazon's distribution process?

Technology and information systems are crucial for managing the vast number of orders. For example, each product arriving at the distribution center is cataloged into the system to ensure the online store’s stock is correctly updated.

How does Amazon organize its inventory in its distribution centers?

Amazon organizes its inventory by allowing items to be placed anywhere in the warehouse, except for food products, which have a designated area. The precise location of each item is marked in the system using codes and locations.

What is the importance of the product's location in the warehouse?

The product's location is important because it needs to be correctly recorded in the system to ensure accurate and efficient picking and packing. It helps prevent errors in order fulfillment.

How are products collected for orders?

Products are collected by a team that follows the system’s instructions to locate items in the warehouse. The team moves between aisles and uses a fast-paced workflow to collect the products.

How are the collected products processed for shipment?

Once collected, the products are placed in yellow bins, separated by floors of the distribution center. They are then sent through conveyor belts to the packing area, where each order is prepared for shipment.

What happens during the packaging process at Amazon?

During packaging, the system determines the appropriate box size based on the weight and dimensions of the products. Once packaged, the order is sealed, labeled, and moved to the shipping area.

How does Amazon ensure the correct delivery of products?

Before the products are loaded onto transport trucks, they go through a final checkpoint where the shipping address is verified. The technology helps to track delivery deadlines and determine the correct shipping carrier based on the destination.