Amazon has announced its plan to open a new robotics fulfilment centre in Shreveport, Louisiana. This will be the first of its kind in the state. The new 650,000 sq ft centre will employ over 1,000 full-time workers picking, packing and shipping small items such as books, toys, electronics and other household items.
Amazon’s robotics fulfilment centres are different to their typical warehouses in that they utilise shelf-lifting robots to move shelves to workers instead of having workers walk to shelves to stow and pick items. This robotic shelving system is utilised only for smaller goods, with orders for larger items being completed at Amazon’s ‘non-sortable’ fulfilment centres.
From 2010 to 2019, Amazon invested more than $250m in the state of Louisiana. The “Fulfillment by Amazon” network supports business worldwide, with 14,500 independent authors and small and medium-sized businesses in the state of Louisiana benefiting from the programme.
Amazon’s Regional Director of Operations, William Hicks, said the following, “Amazon may be a global business, but it’s made up of small businesses and communities. From the local jobs we bring, to the local people we employ, train, and upskill—our business is made up of people from communities like Shreveport. We’re thrilled to be able to expand our operations in Northwest Louisiana and we look forward to becoming part of the fabric of the local community.”
Source: Amazon
