Amazon launches new algorithm Condor to optimize delivery routes

Recently, Amazon launched a new algorithm to optimize logistics delivery routes - customer order and network density optimizer, called "Condor". The algorithm will use the receipt information and other data of the goods to evaluate the transportation routes to determine the delivery plan.

Amazon said that it often takes 5 to 6 hours from the time a customer places an order to the time the distribution center starts processing it. If a customer places an order later in the day, the goods may not be delivered to them on time.

Condor's algorithm can re-evaluate the delivery route multiple times between the time a customer places an order and the time the distribution center begins processing it, in order to create a suitable transportation plan.

It is understood that the new algorithm takes into account the entire geographical area served by the distribution station, while determining how to split the order into shipments and where the procurement center for each shipment is located. The breakthrough achievement of the algorithm is that it can eliminate some complex transportation routes (about 0.5%) and reduce the transportation routes for each area to less than 10.

Amazon chief scientist Rohit Malshe said that without Condor, the delivery network had 50,000 routes, but with Condor it only had 49,750 routes.

Andrea Qualizza, Amazon senior principal scientist, said the Condor algorithm will enable carriers to deliver packages to more customers in a timely manner while reducing carbon emissions from driving miles and fuel.

The report said that the new algorithm was tested at several Amazon delivery stations in January this year and will now be deployed to the retail giant's entire US logistics network. Amazon also plans to deploy it to other countries in the coming months.