Amazon announced the launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool called Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) to help delivery drivers find the right packages for the correct delivery points faster.

On October 9, 2024, the tech giant in an official statement said that initially, Amazon plans to deploy 1,000 electric delivery vans with the new AI tool by early 2025.

Amazon’s Vision Assisted Package Retrieval which has been in development since 2020 aims to make deliveries more efficient by helping drivers reduce the time for delivery and avoiding those extra minutes spent at each stop.

This new AI-powered solution will eradicate the need for delivery drivers to spend a long time organizing packages by stops, reading labels, or manually checking key identifiers like a customer’s name or address to ensure they have the right packages. 

Amazon says drivers “simply have to look for VAPR’s green light; grab, and go.”

VAPR is designed to be used across the US (mentioned through the expansion of same-day prescription delivery) for now.

The AI technology was originally designed for warehouse use to identify products without the need for barcodes.

Now, Amazon has upgraded the tool's computer vision technology to match the confined spaces of delivery vans. It has been integrated with the software that guides drivers on their delivery routes.

The Amazon Transportation team spent long hours in the field with Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) and their drivers to test assumptions and ensure that these new experiences are adding value. 

“Based on early tests, we saw a 67% reduction in perceived physical and mental effort for drivers and more than 30 minutes saved per route,” Amazon stated.

What is Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR)?

Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) is an AI-driven tool developed by Amazon to make its delivery operations more efficient and faster. It uses computer vision technology to identify packages within a delivery van and visually guides drivers to the correct packages for each stop.

Essentially, VAPR helps drivers quickly locate the packages they need to deliver, reducing the time they spend searching and organizing. As a result, it helps them make faster and more organized deliveries.

How does VAPR work?

Vision Assisted Package Retrieval (VAPR) leverages advanced computer vision technology to analyze the contents of packages in the delivery van, all in real-time. This technology was initially developed for Amazon's warehouses to identify products without barcodes.

The delivery service powered by AI can quickly spot individual packages based on their physical characteristics, including size, shape, and color. 

It also projects a green circle on packages that need to be delivered at the current stop and a red X on those destined for later stops. 

VAPR’s visual guidance eradicates the need for drivers to manually sort and organize packages.

That’s why the AI delivery service has been designed to seamlessly integrate with Amazon’s delivery route navigation system.

"Before, it could take me anywhere between 2 and 5 minutes to empty a tote and organize packages for the next stops. Now, with VAPR, this whole step just takes me about a minute,” stated Bobby Garcia, a driver with Bloomfield Logistics, who has been testing VAPR in North Boston. 

“It’s made my life so much easier.”