In the mid-1990s, the Amazon warehouse and its office were one and the same. A handful of employees and one lovable dog shared the Seattle space, along with shelves and shelves of books.
Over time, one warehouse became hundreds, and they are now called Amazon fulfilment centres. While they store millions of items and employ hundreds of thousands of people who seek warehouse jobs, Amazon fulfilment centres are a far cry from your typical warehouse. Read on to learn more about these facilities, Amazon warehouse jobs, and where to find Amazon fulfilment centre tours.
What is an Amazon fulfilment centre?
The name reflects the function: Amazon fulfilment centres are charged with fulfiling customer orders. In other words, Amazon warehouses not only store products but also serve as distribution centres where associates pick, pack, and ship orders quickly and efficiently. Amazon robotics, scanning machines, and computer systems in fulfilment centres can track millions of items in a day. While the word "fulfilment" refers to orders, these centres also fulfil career paths for many associates who participate in the Career Choice program. They also fulfil the vision of engineers and developers who innovate every day to make the work in fulfilment centres more efficient and constantly improve the way Amazon gets products to customers.
How many Amazon fulfilment centres are there, and where are they located?
Amazon operates more than 175 fulfilment centres around the world in more than 150 million square feet of space, the majority located across North America and Europe.
How many Amazon warehouse jobs are there?
It’s easy to find roles at Amazon at just about any time of year, but the holidays are where all the investment, training and recruitment really come together to deliver smiles for customers. To learn more about available positions, visit www.amazon.jobs to see what it’s like working inside fulfilment centres and which career opportunities best fit certain skill sets. There are many different types of jobs available, and Amazon has a £9.50 minimum wage (£10.50 in the London area). Choose from roles leading teams, IT and human resources support to picking, packing, and shipping customer orders, organising shipments and loading lorries.
What is it like inside an Amazon warehouse?
No matter the season, Amazon fulfilment centres are well ventilated and kept at the same comfortable temperature you'd find at home. Skylights combine with artificial lighting to keep the environment bright, while conveyance systems shuttle items across the building and boxes from packing stations to awaiting lorries.
Are fulfilment centres the only type of Amazon warehouse?
No, Amazon also operates sortation centres, where packages are distributed based on location and delivery speed, specialty centres designed for specific item categories or for seasonal use, and receive centres for popular items distributed throughout the network. Dividing facilities by function allows Amazon to fulfil orders for products as big as a canoe or hot tub, or as quirky as a five-pound gummy bear or Halloween costume for your pet. Learn more about the types of Amazon buildings here.
How can I tour an Amazon fulfilment centre?
Public tours are available at eight locations in England and Scotland. Find out more and book your tour at amazon.co.uk/fctours
