Amazon: BofA says robots/AVs could address 34% of total costs

Investing.com -- Bank of America sees significant cost-saving potential in Amazon’s growing use of robotics and autonomous vehicles (AVs), telling investors in a note Monday that the technologies could address up to 34% of the company’s total costs.

BofA said Amazon’s robotics push is “instrumental to improving Amazon’s cost structure.” 

They explained that fulfillment and shipping each account for about 17% of Amazon’s total costs, and both are areas where automation is increasingly being deployed. 

“We believe delivery could be another area of material cost savings,” analysts wrote, highlighting the ramp-up of Zoox AVs and new MK30 drones.

At its recent Delivering the Future event, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) unveiled eight new robots—including Tipper, ZancaSort, and Vulcan—designed to increase efficiency across delivery stations and fulfillment centers. 

Amazon said robots already assist with roughly 75% of customer orders, but BofA expects that “robot touchpoints per package” will grow as the company integrates more machines. 

The bank believes these systems could reduce labor costs, cut injury-related expenses, and improve order accuracy, helping to minimize returns, which MWPVL estimates make up about 20% of fulfillment and delivery costs.

Furthermore, BofA notes that robotics are already being scaled up at Amazon’s 12th Generation Fulfillment Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

CEO Andy Jassy noted that the facility “can reduce fulfillment processing time by up to 25%” and is expected to “drive a 25% improvement in our cost to serve during peak.”

With fulfillment costs totaling $99 billion in 2024, the bank says even modest efficiency gains could have a major financial impact. 

“Robots/AVs could address 34% of total costs,” BofA concluded, reaffirming its Buy rating and $230 price target on Amazon.