Amazon just dropped a 30-minute delivery thing called Amazon Now in Seattle and Philadelphia, targeting Prime members who need stuff fast. The service uses tiny warehouses near residential areas to cut down delivery distances, and it competes directly with Instacart and DoorDash in the quick-commerce space. Prime users pay a small fee per order, while non-Prime customers get hit with higher charges.
The company chose Seattle because that's where its headquarters are, and Philadelphia gives it a dense urban testing ground. If the pilot works out, Amazon plans to expand to other cities. The move cranks up pressure on competitors who already offer rapid delivery, and it could push similar services in places like South Africa to speed things up even more as shoppers expect instant gratification.
The company chose Seattle because that's where its headquarters are, and Philadelphia gives it a dense urban testing ground. If the pilot works out, Amazon plans to expand to other cities. The move cranks up pressure on competitors who already offer rapid delivery, and it could push similar services in places like South Africa to speed things up even more as shoppers expect instant gratification.
