Amazon is reportedly developing smart glasses for its delivery drivers. A Reuters report, citing multiple people familiar with the matter, said the smart glasses will improve delivery supervisors’ navigation and efficiency on delivery routes. The initiative aims to streamline the final steps of the delivery process and ensure packages reach customers quickly and accurately. While the project has yet to be made public, Amazon is planning to use the technology to optimize its delivery operations and enhance customer experience.
How These Amazon Glasses Will Help Delivery
The glasses are expected to provide turn-by-turn navigation on a small embedded screen, guiding drivers to delivery locations and even inside buildings. The glasses will provide real-time guidance, reducing the need for drivers to get directions from their phones or handheld devices.
These instructions can help delivery drivers save valuable time on every delivery, guiding them left or right out of elevators and around obstacles such as gates or aggressive dogs. With millions of packages delivered every day, these hours can quickly add up. The glasses also allow drivers to work hands-free, eliminating the need for handheld GPS devices and enabling them to carry more packages.
The project highlights the online retailer’s focus on lowering delivery costs per package and improving profits amid growing competition from Walmart, which has ramped up e-commerce efforts and lowered prices. Walmart also announced new incentives for independent delivery drivers to handle online orders during the holidays, the report noted.
What Amazon says about these smart glasses
In a statement about driver glasses, an Amazon spokesperson said: “We are constantly innovating to create a safer and better delivery experience for drivers. We would not comment on our product roadmap otherwise.”
While Amazon is actively developing smart glasses for its delivery drivers, the project’s success is not guaranteed. Sources reportedly warned that the glasses could be delayed, shelved, or even scrapped entirely if they fail to live up to expectations or due to unforeseen challenges. The technology could take years to perfect, and the future of the project remains uncertain.
Amazon has been steadily building out its delivery network, including airlines, truck fleets and large warehouses, to reduce reliance on third-party carriers such as UPS and FedEx. The strategy is designed to speed up deliveries and cut costs, especially as shipping costs continue to rise, as evidenced by an 8% increase in Amazon’s shipping costs to $23.5 billion in the third quarter.