Amazon is using its innovation lab – home to a diverse team of scientists and engineers from around the world – to develop and test new technologies to better support employees and serve customers.

In Vercelli, northern Italy, a centuries-old building nestled in a rice field is doing the work of shaping the future. The Amazon Operations Innovation Lab, one of the most advanced robotics innovation centers in Europe, is an international center of excellence where scientists and engineers develop and test new technologies, including advanced robotics and AI-driven innovations, that are shaping the future of work across our network.

Invest in advanced technology for Amazon’s network of fulfillment centers in Europe

1769-L24ER-QB1B  Established in 2017, the lab is a hub for mechatronics and sustainable packaging teams worldwide. The team was established in 2019 and by the end of 2024 will be responsible for installing more than 1,000 new robotics and AI-driven innovations across our European Logistics Centre (FC) network, with an investment of more than €700 million. These cutting-edge technologies include item sorters, pallet haulers and automated guided vehicles that actively support the work of employees at Amazon sites. Robotics and technology play a vital role in strengthening our operational network, and AI allows us to scale these advancements to serve millions of customers around the world.

Each technology has different skill requirements and, in many cases, the creation of new specific roles. In fact, over the past decade, more than 50,000 jobs have been added to FCS across Europe by introducing new technologies to enable employees to play a role, providing them with a safer working environment and the opportunity to improve their skills.

At the same time, robotics and AI-driven innovation have increased price, choice and convenience for our customers. This is one of the factors that enabled us to deliver to Prime members at the fastest rate in the world in 2023, with more than 7 billion packages delivered annually, including 4 billion in the U.S. and 2 billion in Europe.

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The lab is more than just an international innovation hub for the Amazon team. It serves as both a training center for Amazon’s robot operators and a testing ground for startups that receive funding and mentorship through the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund. In addition, starting in 2024, the lab will be open to the public for Tours, providing an opportunity for customers, schools or anyone interested to see how we create and develop innovations.

1769-L24ER-QB1B  “We are proud to open the doors of our lab, not only as Amazon’s innovation hub, but in order to encourage customers, schools and start-ups to be inspired to understand the potential of technology to create a better and safer future of work,” said Stefano La Rovere, our global Director of Robot-Mechatronics and Sustainable Packaging. “At Amazon, we are committed to thinking ahead – over the five years to the end of 2024, we will invest more than €700 million to deploy more than 1,000 robotic systems across our network of European fulfillment centers. In addition, the introduction of new technologies has added 50,000 new jobs to our operations in Europe over the past decade.”

“The lab has a diverse, international team of engineers and scientists who are committed to finding innovative ways to enhance the daily tasks of our employees, providing a safer workplace while providing consistent service to our customers,” Stefano added.

In 2024 alone, we expect to introduce 120 new automation technologies across our European network. Here are some of the most exciting innovations that have emerged from Amazon LABS in recent years, including the Universal Robotic Labeling Machine (URL) announced today, and how they are reshaping our workplaces and beyond.