The e-commerce giant Amazon arrives in the national territory this Tuesday (22): the company announces the beginning of operations of a new distribution center in Cajamar, in the State of São Paulo. In all, 120 thousand new items become part of the company’s inventory, which will sell directly to the final consumer. Among the novelties of the operation, the possibility of fast delivery in up to two days, if the customer meets some requirements.
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The announcement was made by regional manager Alex Szapiro. Until now, Amazon had sales mainly on the market place model – that is, other stores offered their products within the company’s website and applications. With the change, the company now offers 15 product categories. Among the new sectors are: toys, baby products, beauty and personal care. Users will notice new verticals dedicated to these themes directly in the navigation menu of the Brazilian Amazon.
Amazon distribution center in Cajamar (SP) – Photo: Disclosure / Amazon Brasil
The reinforcement of national operations has to do with the new logistics center. It is added to another one in Barueri, in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, where there are currently some devices – among them the Kindle. Szapiro estimates that the 42,000 square meters is equivalent to ten football stadiums. Some of the company’s 1,400 direct and indirect employees in the country will operate there.
Despite a brand new center, built especially for the company – which does not reveal the investment nor the time dedicated to the project – there is no robotization of the space. They are human beings that carry out all the movement of stock. “Human beings are much more efficient when choosing shelves and placing products”, explains Szapiro in a chat with dnetc. He points out that only 26 of the 175 logistics centers around the world adopt modern robots to perform tasks.
Alex Szapiro at Amazon’s distribution center in Cajamar (SP) – Photo: Disclosure / Amazon Brasil
Consumers now have several delivery options. The operation is similar to that of e-commerce in the United States: for each purchase, Amazon offers different prices and terms (including post office service). THE delivery figure quickly among the modalities. At this first moment, it is available for selected items and to consumers in the metropolitan areas of SĂŁo Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Curitiba.
Another change concerns the cost of delivery: the company promises free shipping for purchases that exceed R $ 149. It is not known whether the condition is promotional or will remain a characteristic of Brazilian Amazon.
The store led by Jeff Bezos accepts payment up to ten times by credit card (without interest) or by bank slip. Acting in the conglomerate for seven years, Szapiro reveals the many benefits that have been identified as a feature of the Brazilian public. It was necessary to develop a technology here that would make it possible to collect the installments. The possibility drew the attention of executives from abroad, who chose to repeat the formula in other countries.
Kindle: one of the 320 thousand different items that Amazon starts selling in the country – Photo: Maria Clara Pestre / dnetc
Entering direct consumer sales does not change the way Amazon handles the so-called market place. Szapiro says that the system does not favor Amazon’s own inventory and can display partners, since the location of access is also considered, and there are situations where geographically closest stores are able to deliver a better shopping experience.
He cites three pillars to defend the “neutral” algorithm: “There are things that are universal. Nobody wants to pay more, receive more slowly or not find the product they are looking for ”.
Amazon Prime Brazilian? Stores where customers don’t have to go through checkouts? Deliveries with drones? These are some of the topics that the company does not comment on. However, he makes a point of stressing that he thinks strategically, with an eye on the next 50 or 60 years.
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