Amazon preps new robotics fulfilment centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Amazon has announced plans to open its second robotics fulfilment centre in the US state of Louisiana.

In the 820,000 square foot facility, which will be situated in Baton Rouge, Amazon employees will pick, pack, and ship smaller customer items such as books, toys, electronics and other household items.

“We’re a global business with local roots set firmly in the communities in which we live, work, and play,” says Bri Tye, Regional Director of Operations at Amazon.

“From the local jobs we bring, to the local people we employ, train, and upskill, our business is made up of people from the communities like Baton Rouge.”

“We’re excited to be growing our operations in the heart of Louisiana and want to thank the local community and all of the state and local leaders for their support in making this project possible.”

“This is the one we’ve been waiting for,” adds President and CEO Adam Knapp of Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

“Amazon’s project is transformational, both for creating a thousand jobs and serving as a model of intentional economic development.”

“It’s been a great team effort of state and local leadership to get this project in place. The blighted Cortana Mall will be reinvented into a modern logistics hub that will catalyse investment in the Florida Boulevard corridor and beyond.”

Just Walk Out technology

Amazon’s cashierless Just Walk Out technology is about to be available in a full size grocery store for the first time.

A new 25,000 square foot Amazon Fresh store lines up alongside the 10,400 square foot Amazon Go Grocery that debuted last year, and the standard 1,200 and 2,300 square feet Go locations.

It will be Amazon’s 14th Fresh location in the US when it opens tomorrow in Bellevue, Washington.

Just Walk Out tech is now at the newest Amazon Fresh grocery store – customers in Bellevue, WA can skip the checkout line and experience it themselves beginning this Thursday. https://t.co/4FfQbQBjXL
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) June 15, 2021

“Customers have enjoyed the effortless shopping experience enabled by our Just Walk Out technology at our Amazon Go, Go Grocery, Fresh stores in the UK, and third-party retailer stores,” says Dilip Kumar, VP of Physical Retail and Technology at Amazon.

“The feedback has been fantastic, with customers noting that skipping the checkout allows them to save time and reduce contact in stores.”

He adds: “Bringing Just Walk Out technology to a full size grocery space with the Amazon Fresh store in Bellevue showcases the technology’s continued ability to scale and adapt to new environments and selection”

“I’m thrilled it’ll help even more customers enjoy an easier and faster way to shop and can’t wait to get their feedback on this latest Just Walk Out offering.”

Customers who opt for this can enter the store in three ways.

They can scan the QR code in their Amazon app, use Amazon One to scan their palm, or insert a credit or debit card linked to their Amazon account. Each option will open the Just Walk Out gates.

Once inside the store, customers can shop like normal. Anything they take off the shelf is automatically added to their virtual cart, and anything they put back on the shelf comes out of said cart.

At the end of their trip, they scan or insert their entry method again to exit.