Commerce is slowly zooming out - the next step will be less like a mega corp and more like a mega delivery network.
Look at the way information has evolved - first through local gazettes and slowly consolidating into international publishers and newspapers. Then the internet came and blew things up with a new protocol, as we all know.
The creation and delivery of physical products looks like it's going down a similar path. Amazon will be almost like an API for physical products. (Developers in the house, forgive me if my metaphor is off.)
Create stuff, send it it to the API and then wait for customers to ping the API for your products.
It will be an automated network of bots that pick up your products, store it (with refrigeration if need be) and then deliver it to any point around the world. The way information packets flow around the internet - this will be the way physical products flow around the world. 100% automated, end-to-end, fully democratizing product creation.
AI will determine which warehouses get the most of your products but every producer in the world will have access to the best logistics network in the world. Think of how many companies have a moat based on distribution. The promise of eCommerce will finally be fulfilled - and all of this because of driverless car tech and automated warehouses.
Look at the way information has evolved - first through local gazettes and slowly consolidating into international publishers and newspapers. Then the internet came and blew things up with a new protocol, as we all know.
The creation and delivery of physical products looks like it's going down a similar path. Amazon will be almost like an API for physical products. (Developers in the house, forgive me if my metaphor is off.)
Create stuff, send it it to the API and then wait for customers to ping the API for your products.
It will be an automated network of bots that pick up your products, store it (with refrigeration if need be) and then deliver it to any point around the world. The way information packets flow around the internet - this will be the way physical products flow around the world. 100% automated, end-to-end, fully democratizing product creation.
AI will determine which warehouses get the most of your products but every producer in the world will have access to the best logistics network in the world. Think of how many companies have a moat based on distribution. The promise of eCommerce will finally be fulfilled - and all of this because of driverless car tech and automated warehouses.