Meet Amazon's new warehouse robot

🤖 Robots made easy

Meet Digit, a 2 legged robot that could cause a lot less strain in warehouses.

Last year, Digit caused a stir by showing its ability to grab totes (storage bins) from shelves, walk to a conveyor belt, and unload them.

Soon after, Agility Robotics, the company behind Digit, announced pilot programs with Amazon.

🔎 What Amazon’s doing

In October 2023, Amazon began testing Digit at its research facility near Seattle.

• The initial task? Helping with the repetitive chore of tote recycling.

• Once warehouse workers pick all the items from a tote, it becomes empty and needs to be moved.

• This is where Digit takes over the lifting and moving, freeing up human workers for other tasks.

📦️ The new age warehouse worker?

Here's what makes Digit special:

• Digit has grasshopper-like legs that allow it to climb stairs, navigate uneven terrain, and even crouch down to pick up objects from the floor.

• Digit can lift packages up to 35 pounds and walk in all directions.

Digit isn't meant to replace human workers. Amazon emphasizes that Digit will work alongside employees, taking over the more mundane tasks.

Experts believe that robots like Digit can address the ongoing labor shortage in warehouses.

More importantly, these robots can take over the physically demanding and repetitive tasks, reducing the risk of injuries for human workers.

Topsort makes shopping ads cleaner and more transparent

Forget stalker cookies and intrusive tracking

That's the promise of Topsort's new tech. They offer a collection of tools, from unique ad formats to in-depth analytics, all designed to be user-friendly and scalable.

Here's what makes Topsort stand out:

• Topsort uses its "Clean Room" to analyze data. The encrypted technology lets retailers and brands to get insights while keeping user data completely anonymous.

• Just like big tech companies, Topsort uses an auction system to make sure you get the most bang for your buck.

• Topsort lets retailers and marketplaces take control of their advertising with customizable APIs and a user-friendly platform.

• You'll always know exactly where your advertising dollars are going. Their one-click sponsored listings and reporting features give you complete control over your campaigns.

According to their results, Topsort is:

• 5x Faster

• and Increased ad revenue by 500%

Topsort has recently secured $20 million in funding, which they'll use to further develop their platform and make clean advertising accessible to everyone.

Zepto introduces India's first platform fee for quick groceries

🥇 First for fees

Zepto, the rising star of quick commerce in India, is trying a new tactic: platform fees.

Unlike its competitors, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart, who rely solely on handling fees, Zepto is testing a ₹2 platform fee on orders for some users.

While Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart charge platform fees on food deliveries, Zepto is the first to implement it for groceries.

💸 What else does Zepto charge for?

This ₹2 fee joins Zepto's existing charges which includes:

• Handling fees (ranging from ₹5-20)

• Delivery fees (between ₹5 and ₹28)

• "Small cart" fee for orders under ₹100

• Surge fee during peak times.

However, Zepto is also offering a counterpoint to these additional charges: the Zepto Pass membership program.

• It has an introductory price of ₹19

• Zepto hit 1 million Pass subscribers within a week

🔎 Looking ahead

So, why the platform fee despite the membership option? Zepto believes profitability shouldn't hinge solely on delivery fees.

Customers who order frequently can benefit from the pass, while others can still use Zepto with the additional platform fee.