Amazon to launch the Uber of package delivery?
You order something from the Internet and sit and wait for it to arrive, only to have it delivered to your doorstep so late you almost don’t need it any more. We’ve all been there. What can you do, though? The delivery driver more than likely has a set route and they show up whenever they can. That’s life, right? Not according to Amazon.
Amazon wants to recruit your neighbors to deliver packages. Amazon is currently developing a mobile app and service that would pay people to deliver packages. Think of it as the Uber of package delivery. This is the latest innovation considered by Amazon to decrease their out-of-pocket costs for delivering those packages to your doorstep.
Previously, they have considered GPS tracking-enabled drone delivery (codenamed Bring It to Me) and offering Prime members a credit for accepting “no-rush” delivery, rather than the 2-day delivery customary to the Prime program.
“On My Way” has some bugs to be worked out
The new program, called On My Way, still has a few bugs that need to be worked out before it launches. For example, will there be background checks on the participants? What about theft prevention? Liability? Will this actually prove to be more cost effective than the Post Office and UPS? It still has a long way to go before it can be launched, but it says something about the new “employ yourself” movement.
Yet another distraction for hungry freelancers?
Could freelancers begin to get so distracted by all these opportunities that they give up on their main goals? It is entirely possible that freelancers could lose their focus from their main projects, as these other opportunities may result in greater immediate profit.
If you’re sitting at home working on a project and have the opportunity to work for Amazon as well, you may very well head out to delivery packages to get paid immediately, whether than waiting for a project to finish and then wait on payment. Others may simply opt for the fast cash in time of need, shorting themselves of earnings in the long run. Time will tell.
That said, it could help sellers
If Amazon finishes developing their On My Way program, it could prove to be a useful tool for Amazon shoppers, businesses looking to sell more products, and people looking to make extra money. It is also clear that Amazon is working hard to cut delivery costs while trying to keep their customers happy.
Only time will tell whether the best method is drones, humans, or charging more for delivery.
