http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/ Engadget Comments for Zappos hires robots to take over inventory floor http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 6:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 12:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 1:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 2:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 10:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 29th 2008 9:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jul 1st 2008 1:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jul 16th 2008 1:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Except for the people losing their jobs...]]>Jun 28th 2008 6:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 6:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Erm...I don't think you understand what he's saying.

When he says people, he doesn't mean a selection of every person in the entire world, he means people from the inventory floor at Zappos...]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
However, the article is short on specifics so there isn't a way to be totally sure of that..]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
@William Donelson

I disagree, without more information from the article, I would guess that those floor employees would be utilized in a similar way that UPS works in their automated hubs. Filling a gap in fulfillment between the automated system and the inbound/outbound doors. The automated system can process more packages, so employees who would pick product (in the case of UPS sort the packages) would be moved to jobs like quality control or packing. To show how that would work in the UPS setup more employees would work in the unload, load, data capture, or irreg sort (packages that cannot be put into the auto system), to make sure the system is working at capacity.

Zappos puts a lot of emphasis on their employees, which is why I think this is their plan for controlling costs. Make the individual employee more productive (having one person touch each order instead of two), shorting the amount of time it takes to process the same volume. Their business is still growing, so that increases the volume so the impact on jobs is minimized. (Or they may just run fat until the volume picks up)
]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 8:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
or pay a one off sum for the robot system, with only maintenance upkeep costs?

The prospect of humans getting laid off is not a thing most of us like to look at but it is a sad reality of the progression we pace.


Its one hell of a rat race after all.

]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 9:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Probably not so much.

There's bots to build the bots.

It's a never ending cycle.]]>Jun 28th 2008 11:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
http://www.calacanis.com/2008/06/14/zappos-pays-folks-1-000-to-quit/]]>Jun 28th 2008 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Anyone who is relying on their order-picking skills as a sole source of income cannot be surprised they're losing their jobs.

Seriously...after hundreds/thousands of magazine articles, TV shows, news reports, movies, etc. not to mention what has happened to other people over the last few decades, anyone who still thinks they can make a career out of menial labor is a fool.

Yes, it sucks to lose your job...I've lost mine more than once. But I didn't lose it because of some grand conspiracy against the little guy, I lost it because I was lazy and didn't keep myself valuable to my employer. And I certainly would never expect to hold a job for very long if that job could be done by a machine.

People need to take personal responsibility to keep themselves and their skills marketable and in demand. It isn't up to anyone else to do it for them. Anyone who doesn't take that responsibility seriously deserves zero sympathy.


]]>Jun 28th 2008 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
You bring up and interesting point and I cannot agree with you more about taking initiative, building your skills, and controlling your own life. If all you expect to be is an un-skilled laborer then, yes, you're going to end up without a job at some point no matter what. Especially in this day and age.

These jobs should be a steeping stones, not their sole career path.]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
It's so terrible when technology and innovation starts replacing manual labor.


Some one once told me that any job that can be performed in a repeatable manner can, and probably will, be automated in the future. It's called industrialization. It kinda changed the whole world in the 20th century, seriously... look it up.

Ok, maybe I placed that sarcasm tag a bit early :)]]>Jun 29th 2008 12:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 6:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Wait....then that means......

.....MOM GOT FREAKY WITH A SNEAKER?!?!?!?!?
]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 9:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
And you just gave us a great reason to continue these unfunny jokes.]]>Jun 28th 2008 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 6:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 7:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 7:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
That's what you were about to say, yes? ;-)]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/And when the day comes that the robot can do it anyway...well...let's just hope that you own many of those robots, lol.]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
This means a bunch of people just lost their job.]]>Jun 28th 2008 7:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Plus, I'm getting the impression that these uber-Roombas are coming in to help with expansion, so it really just means they'll tone down hiring:


"with the addition of new products outside of just footwear"

]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Plus, I'm getting the impression that these uber-Roombas are coming in to help with expansion, so it really just means they'll tone down hiring:


"with the addition of new products outside of just footwear"

]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
or pay a one off sum for the robot system, with only maintenance upkeep costs?

The prospect of humans getting laid off is not a thing most of us like to look at but it is a sad reality of the progression we pace.


Its one hell of a rat race after all.

]]>Jun 28th 2008 8:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 9:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/These robots actually bring the shelves to the employees. So instead of running down a long line of shelves, the employees stand in one place, and the shelf comes to them, they pick the appropriate piece out and put it in the shipping box, hit a button, and the next shelf slides into place.
Although the dork on the video doesn't mention about restocking the shelves.
Should be minimal labor cutbacks if any at all, still human hands putting stuff into boxes. just easier and more efficient work for them.

http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/sections/factory_floor_tech/]]>Jun 28th 2008 10:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
http://blogs.spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/2007/12/17/the_nutcracker_performed_by_dancing_kiva_robots.html]]>Jun 28th 2008 12:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 1:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/
Jobs are not rights or entitlements. You only get a job when someone needs your skills and experience. Therefore, it should be obvious that the way to keep your job or keep working is to make sure your skills and experience are always in demand somewhere.

If your career plan is "a robot could do my job so I hope the company never buys one" you're in for a big surprise someday.

]]>Jun 28th 2008 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 1:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 7:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 29th 2008 12:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 28th 2008 9:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/"They took our jobs!"]]>Jun 28th 2008 10:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/28/zappos-hires-robots-to-take-over-inventory-floor/Jun 29th 2008 1:06AM