Amazon - statistics & facts
There is a stark difference in the e-commerce industry before and after the rise of Amazon. The international e-commerce behemoth has redefined standards of online retail and shopping services, making the most out of the marketplace business model. The steadily increasing sales figures speak for themselves — Amazon hit nearly 638 billion U.S. dollars in net sales revenue worldwide in 2024. Due to its global scope and reach, Amazon is considered one of the most valuable brands worldwide.
Amazon’s patent filing activity is intense and signals that the company will stay at the forefront of technology innovations. Drone delivery services – branded with ‘Prime air’ – are being tested in the United States, Italy, and the UK. In addition to that, Generative AI is already being used for personalization and content management purposes. Predictive models based on environmental factors and road safety are being tested to ease the hectic work of drivers participating in Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner program.
Selling strategies and operations
Most of Amazon's revenue is generated through e-retail sales of different categories of products, followed by third-party seller revenues, retail and media subscriptions, and AWS cloud services. Amazon serves as a global platform for third-party sellers (3P), which are independent sellers using Amazon as an e-commerce site to offer their products. 3P sales account for roughly 60 percent of total paid units on Amazon’s marketplace. Amazon also provides sellers with end-to-end logistics services. The fulfilled-by-Amazon (FBA) option includes order picking, packing, shipping, and handling and it is now used to distribute about half of the units sold in most Amazon’s markets.Milestones for a business empire
Over 100 mergers and acquisitions have paved the way for Amazon’s commerce empire. Since the enormous take-over of grocer Whole Foods worth 13.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, Amazon has invested in several industries, from entertainment to tech, from logistics to healthcare. The latest acquisitions show Amazon’s strategic interest in artificial intelligence. In August 2024, the e-commerce giant acquired Perceive, a startup providing AI microprocessors with low power consumption.Amazon’s patent filing activity is intense and signals that the company will stay at the forefront of technology innovations. Drone delivery services – branded with ‘Prime air’ – are being tested in the United States, Italy, and the UK. In addition to that, Generative AI is already being used for personalization and content management purposes. Predictive models based on environmental factors and road safety are being tested to ease the hectic work of drivers participating in Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner program.
