Amazon is planning to increase its presence in Europe by opening new warehouses and hiring more employees, despite the global economic downturn leading to cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
According to Reuters, the company has invested €142 billion in Europe since 2010 and has seen growth in the region due to increased online shopping during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Amazon’s Vice President of Global Operations for North America and Europe, Stefano Perego, stated that the company’s footprint in Europe would expand beyond its current 70 fulfilment centres.
According to the report, he did not disclose the number or location of the new warehouses, stating that they will be based on customer demand. Amazon’s objective is to increase efficiency by shortening delivery distances and automating fulfilment centres.
During a Shoptalk conference in Barcelona, the Vice President of Global Operations for North America and Europe stated that Amazon views artificial intelligence as a “force for good”.
As the debate around the risks of AI continues to heat up, Perego argues that robots are making warehouses safer by reducing the need for workers to move heavy objects or engage in repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on tasks requiring more skill.
In his words, “The ability to have a collaborative deployment of AI is really a key strategic element for us.”
“I think it’s transforming jobs, and it is giving better, upskilled types of jobs in warehouse and logistics,” Perego added.
