[ad_1]
Recent developments tell us that Amazon, Inc. (AMZN) has no intention of stopping at traditional commerce, whether it is everything they sell on their site, or their grocery. The most recent of these investments is a construction start-up – Plant Prefab.
According to a report by CNBC, "Amazon said its Alexa fund had invested in Plant Prefab, a Southern California company that claims to use sustainable building processes and materials to build custom homes and multi-family homes." The report also indicated that the start-up was considering using automation to build units faster and cheaper.
When Amazon becomes agitated
Remember when Amazon bought Whole Foods, for example, $ 14 billion last summer?
The retail giant has argued that it has ambitions that go beyond its existing business model. The company usually invest in and acquire emerging companies involved in everything from AI and machine learning to clothing and accessories. From media and entertainment to hardware and home services. This article from MarketWatch shows you all the companies of the Bezos Empire (from January 2018, the list has certainly been extended since).
By the time Amazon bought Whole Foods, a tweet began to circulate:
AMAZON, 1998: hello we sell books but online
AMAZON, 2023: return to your Primehouse for your Primemeal parties, primecitizen valued
– KT NELSON (@KrangTNelson) June 16, 2017
Of course, the tweet was done jokingly, but it raises questions. How far will Amazon reach in our lives with its elegant design, undeniable convenience and excellent customer service (bastards).
We have seen other (very successful) projects from Amazon. In July, Recode reported that Amazon's profits in the second quarter were not made in the retail market, but on the back of Amazon Web Services (AWS) (cloud computing division) and advertising activities. Amazon. Amazon Web Services grew 49% year-over-year when the report was released in the second quarter. Amazon's other activities (mainly advertising) had increased more than 120% over the same period.
At the time, Recode wrote that this growth has allowed the company to reinvest its earnings in retail and delivery, "broadening its defensive gap in its core retail sector." A New York Times article this week suggests that's also the case. The company appears to be using Seattle, his hometown, as a testing lab, to find ways to make parcel returns and pickups more convenient, while reducing shipping costs.
However, while retail, web services and ads seem to dominate the balance sheet for the moment, it is quite possible that this is not always the case or even that it is very long. It should not be forgotten that Amazon is a massive company, with many interests, many weapons, many skills and many investments.
What does this mean for Amazon?
This is a new move from Amazon. Although the company has invested in a wide range of sectors, it has never invested in housing construction.
The Alexa fund of Amazon is featured on its website as providing "up to $ 100 million in venture capital to fuel innovation in voice technology".
Amazon believes that "experiments built around the human voice will fundamentally improve the way people use technology." This seems true – Amazon seems to have invested a lot in the innovation of voice technology.
Last week, Amazon's surprise hardware event was marked by the unveiling of a large number of Alexa-related products, including several with local voice recognition and voice control. Among these include a car entry, an updated Fire TV multimedia ecosystem (ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC now), new and improved speaker options, a new smart home screen, a wifi router, a wall clock, a smart microwave and a smart plug.
Even more interesting perhaps, Amazon has also unveiled new home security options: a camera that can be connected to a home alarm system and Alexa Guard, which "integrates Echo devices, smart lights, and security providers." security services ". .
These changes, combined with the company's latest investment in Plant Prefab, suggest that Amazon will soon be a provider not only to home but also to home.
It's hard to know how Amazon's Alexa Fund has invested in Plant Prefab under the pretense of fueling 'voice technology innovation', but it's much easier to see the investment from the fund suggest that Amazon aims to create Amazon Primehome with Amazon material. and provide them with goods, services and food.
This can disrupt many areas, including housing construction, home equipment, speakers, and home security.
The tweet does not seem so pleasant anymore, is not it?
[ad_2]
Source link
