Marcelo Affonso

Collaboration across the supply chain is key to building more efficient, resilient delivery networks. At Amazon Business Reshape 2025, I’ll be teaming up with Brian Steward to lead a workshop on optimizing business deliveries. We’ll explore practical ways to customize delivery settings that reduce operational friction, improve reliability, and create better experiences for teams and customers alike. Join us in Seattle Nov 12-13 to exchange ideas on how smarter delivery strategies can create more effective operations. #ABReshape2025

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💥Real-world AI impact 💥 I post a lot of content about AI and the usage of it, more often than not looking into the near to not-so-near future. So when I see an actual existing real-world impact of AI, it makes me smile 🙂. Samsara is helping drivers detect road hazards, emergency vehicles, and more, see the video below. #Samsara #AI #12DaysofSamsara

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When safety leadership becomes strategic, modern, and tech-driven, it unlocks real innovation. That’s exactly what happened at Amazon under Heather MacDougall, Esq. and CSP, whose work as VP of Health & Safety reshaped how warehouse operations scale safely and intelligently in one of the world’s fastest-moving companies. But here’s the truth most people miss: ✖️SafetyTech isn’t really about technology. ✔️It’s about people — how they think, how they work, and most importantly, how leaders frame the problem. The best innovations don’t start with sensors, dashboards, AI models, or automation. They start with better questions, clearer strategy, and leaders willing to rethink how safety supports performance. #podcast #safetybeyondcompliance #AI #skills #learning #problemsolving #leadership #EHS

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𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀. Many assume it’s entirely railroad service variability. In reality, a large portion of dwell originates inside shipper execution workflows: release timing, yard congestion, billing delays, and communication gaps. Visibility helps. Execution discipline reduces dwell. The most efficient rail networks focus on operational reliability first.

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Over 11 years at Amazon working across fulfillment centers, AWS data centers, logistics, and Amazon Grocery, one lesson stands out: communication matters at every stage of a project. Before a project it builds alignment. During execution it keeps teams moving and problems visible. Afterward it helps teams reflect and improve. The best teams don’t avoid problems. They communicate and work through them together.

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I listened to The Daily this morning, and today's episode is all about Amazon's plans to cut warehouse costs through automation. Amazon believes it can save about $0.30 per item, which, in unit economics, is quite a lot! The goal? To reinvest those savings into AI, a long term bet that's currently costing Big Tech billions. This is the same rationale behind Amazon's recent corporate layoffs: cutting costs now to fund AI innovation later. Here's who I predict will be the winners and losers from this shift: 🏆 Winners • Small businesses: Amazon's warehouses compete locally for low-skill workers by offering higher pay and benefits like health care and parental leave. As automation reduces warehouse hiring, small businesses (restaurants, shops, etc) may find it easier, and cheaper, to hire. • Robotics companies: Amazon is trying to escape a linear hiring curve where costs scale with growth. As they invest in automation, the technology will mature, benefiting competitors and robotics suppliers alike. • Engineers: More automation means more demand for mechanical, robotics, and software engineers to build, maintain, and optimize the systems. ❌ Losers: • Low-skill workers: While small businesses may benefit, wages and benefits for local workers could decline as Amazon reduces competition for labor. • Most companies investing in AI: AI does not equal automation. Some AI helps automate tasks, but the massive AI spending across tech won't pay off for everyone. (Hard Fork, another podcast, reported that this year alone, companies will spend 2x what the US spent building the entire interstate high way system over 30+ years, and that's adjusted for inflation). Amazon's strategy might be one of the smarter funding models from a business perspective, but whether it pays off is still to be seen. 💬 What do you think? Will Amazon's automation strategy strengthen or weaken the broader economy? 🎧 And here's today's The Daily episode if you want to give it a listen: https://lnkd.in/gy_p5gp7

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Just in time for the holidays, I'm thrilled to announce that we've expanded Amazon Pharmacy's Same-Day medication delivery service to the San Francisco Bay Area!   This expansion serves Bay Area customers in a region where pharmacy closures have reduced options by over 40% in the last decade. Our teams are working hard to bring this Same-Day medication delivery service to nearly half of U.S. customers by the end of 2025, filling critical access gaps in communities nationwide.   Our two new state-of-the-art pharmacy facilities in Brisbane and Richmond feature advanced automation technology and temperature-controlled storage. Licensed pharmacists are available 24/7 to answer customer questions, while our caregiver feature provides a secure way to manage medications for children, aging parents, or other family members.   I'm incredibly proud of our team's dedication to expanding medication access when and where people need it most. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gP9qc8M2

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So impressive to see Amazon Web Services (AWS) Just Walk Out technology Eduardo Farias Drew Calabrese progress in reducing requirements, costs, and launch timelines to scale unattended 24/7 micromarkets across the Amazon fulfillment network! The impact on the associate break experience is clear, and the applications extend far beyond fulfillment centers—higher ed, healthcare, business & industrial, hospitality, and more. Excited to see these learnings continue to scale across verticals!

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