2 ms·

I just had this entire argument in my head today before seeing this post. But swap ups for FedEx. Amazon has the de facto service and for some reason others hav

I just had this entire argument in my head today before seeing this post. But swap ups for FedEx. Amazon has the de facto service and for some reason others haven’t even tried to replicate it. If anyone wants to reverse engineer the data matrix tracking code (think Amazon packages) side of things hit me up.

vaidhy 4y ago
I used to work at Amazon on transportation long time ago.. but that data matrix is not too complicated. From the last package I got, I see that the parcel got routed from BOI2 -> WA5 from the first QR code and from WA5 -> RNT9. I would guess the parcel originated from a warehouse in Boise, Idaho and moved to sort center WA5 (somewhere in washington.. I would guess Federal Way). Then it went from there to last mile delivery station RNT9 - I would guess Renton here and from there got delivered at my house. The QR codes are not the magic. The real magic are the systems that select routes (Why was WA5 was selected from BOI2) and how Amazon fills it truck for optimal utilization. There are so many processes you need to plan and execute flawlessly with a very temporary workforce. Replicating this needs a lot of cash, a lot of talent in system and process design, good local leadership, and insane focus on operational efficiency.
- danvoell 4y ago
  I agree this isn’t a differentiator and or complex but could be used for common courtesy / digital tracking… why can’t FedEx/ups notify me when something was delivered…or give me a better delivery window than “tomorrow between 9am and 7pm”. I’m in an industrial complex with 8 other retail businesses and today a package which I didn’t know had shipped to me (or delivered) was left outside a door of mine next to public parking. This behavior is the norm at my location.

2 ms·

I just had this entire argument in my head today before seeing this post. But swap ups for FedEx. Amazon has the de facto service and for some reason others hav

by danvoell 4y ago

vaidhy 4y ago
I used to work at Amazon on transportation long time ago.. but that data matrix is not too complicated. From the last package I got, I see that the parcel got routed from BOI2 -> WA5 from the first QR code and from WA5 -> RNT9. I would guess the parcel originated from a warehouse in Boise, Idaho and moved to sort center WA5 (somewhere in washington.. I would guess Federal Way). Then it went from there to last mile delivery station RNT9 - I would guess Renton here and from there got delivered at my house. The QR codes are not the magic. The real magic are the systems that select routes (Why was WA5 was selected from BOI2) and how Amazon fills it truck for optimal utilization. There are so many processes you need to plan and execute flawlessly with a very temporary workforce. Replicating this needs a lot of cash, a lot of talent in system and process design, good local leadership, and insane focus on operational efficiency.
- danvoell 4y ago
  I agree this isn’t a differentiator and or complex but could be used for common courtesy / digital tracking… why can’t FedEx/ups notify me when something was delivered…or give me a better delivery window than “tomorrow between 9am and 7pm”. I’m in an industrial complex with 8 other retail businesses and today a package which I didn’t know had shipped to me (or delivered) was left outside a door of mine next to public parking. This behavior is the norm at my location.