In a 10-K filed for its fiscal year that closed December 31, Amazon -- for the first time -- identifies itself as a "transportation services provider".
Transportation costs are a major expense for Amazon and a significant source of revenue for UPS, FedEx, US Postal Service, and other delivery companies. 2015 the company spent more than $11.5 billion, a $2.8 billion increase over 2014 levels.
The SEC language has spurred further (well-informed) speculation that Amazon is targeting its current vendors -- especially UPS and FedEx as competitors.
I'm not so sure. Given the level -- and dynamism -- of demand in many growth-markets and the outer limits of any supply operation, I can more easily imagine Amazon developing its own multi-capable fleet even as it continues to engage several third-party providers. This "all of the above" delivery strategy is fairly typical in the highest velocity markets.
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