Are Amazon Drivers About To Start Wearing Smart Glasses Behind The Wheel?

A number of tech companies have attempted — with varying degrees of success — to create “smart” glasses that would appeal to the masses. Wearable tech has been a hit-and-miss segment of the industry for a while, but Amazon reportedly has a unique approach to smart glasses that could pay off by increasing the efficiency of its delivery service.

What we know so far

Although the company hasn’t divulged many specifics, there are plenty of rumors circulating about what this new project entails. Instead of attempting to mass market the product, insiders indicate Amazon wants to tailor the technology in its Echo Show glasses to be used by its own drivers.

Here are some of the features they could include:

• Displaying real-time directions while delivering packages
• Capturing footage for proof of delivery or driver monitoring
• Reducing the cost and time of so-called “last-mile” deliveries

Amazon is in a unique position given its ability to produce class-leading software and hardware created specifically to boost its own delivery segment.

Easier said than done

Given the lukewarm response to smart glasses from companies like Google, Snap, and Meta, this project appears to face an uphill battle from the start.

And since models from other companies have suffered from short battery life and/or technical malfunctions, it’s important for Amazon to create a product that remains effective throughout a long shift.

Its success is far from guaranteed, but there’s no question that Amazon has an incentive to trim costs wherever possible. Profit margins in the e-commerce market have always been razor-thin — and if a court rules that Amazon must treat its drivers as employees rather than contractors, its delivery expenses would increase even further.

The company’s investment in electric delivery vehicles is another step toward using technology to lower costs.

Chris Agee November 12th, 2024

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