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I’d say their reputation as a tech company predated AWS and AWS/Kindle/Alexa were pushes to create the multiple expansion across their retail revenue which is e
by conductr 4y ago
I’d say their reputation as a tech company predated AWS and AWS/Kindle/Alexa were pushes to create the multiple expansion across their retail revenue which is enormous. The fake hype around drone delivery was another push to display they were innovative which they really just made a commercial.
The fact AWS ultimately was successful particularly at driving profit was luck. The core of their business and culture is still retail.
Their retail strategy and scale on the internet meant they needed technical expertise the same as how a traditional retail company needs real estate, construction, and merchandising expertise. It doesn’t make them a tech company because they utilized tech in a large scale and had the physical assets and data center expertise to launch a product like AWSes.
- PaulDavisThe1st 4y agoAt the time that amzn started, they were absolutely a tech company, doing things with tech that nobody else was, in the retail realm. I would absolutely agree that it doesn't make much sense to talk about the retail arm as a tech company any more, although it's not 100% clear cut since the company's apparent strong interest in aggressive automation may undercut that argument. However, AWS appeared before the retail division even made a profit, and it continues to be the real revenue generator, and in this sense, regardless of the state of the retail division, it still seems fairly useful to categorize the company as a tech company.
- up2isomorphism 4y agoTo say AWS is luck is like to say iPhone is a luck.
- conductr 4y agoTiming the market is always luck. Smart phones had been around and many failed when the iPhone succeeded. Luck often requires exceptional execution and that’s where they succeed.