Amazon-Germany-in-chief in an Interview : All the gifts are in time under the Christmas tree

Mr glue, you are in Christmas mood, or outweigh the Stress?

I'm really looking forward to Christmas and I am absolutely not stressed. In business as in private, the time feels different, in our logistics centers colleagues put on Christmas hats, and are even more motivated. But of course, I am also looking forward to when I can move to the final sprint time, the plug and me with the help of family and friends to relax.

The increasing order quantities to bring the package deliverers to their limits. You should order early this year his gifts?

We have always managed to bring all the gifts in time to put under the tree. Not this year will be different. We and our partners in logistics are all prepared for it.

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The package of services but have problems to find enough additional deliverer. This is not the bottle neck?

There is always potential for improvement. That's why we experiment also reinforced with its own supplies, to learn how you can make it even better. But as I said: All delivery promises we give, we think, there must be no one thoughts.

What percentage is shipped by Amazon itself?

I can't quantify, but we see ourselves as an important part of the delivery chain. We try as much of the delivery in an hour to get to our new Express service in Munich, where we supply a large range of articles for orders up to 12 noon on the same day.

A part of Amazon Flex, where private individuals as a package deliverer for Amazon something to earn. Is the extended for Christmas?

Flex, there are in Berlin and Munich. We will continue to experiment with Flex. The customer should not have to think about how he comes to his package. The package must find him.

Some logistics companies, to deliver only against extra fee to the front door. Is that going to happen?

Our clients connect to an Amazon with free Shipping. Prime members, anyway, all the other orders of 29 EUR. This is an important feature and I see no reason why we should withdraw from it.

What you can do in order for the logistics to catch up with the growth?

We invest in technology in our logistics centers, in aircraft, Trucks, or Machine Learning, there are a lot of aspects. Overall, the delivery needs to be flexible. Loose, for example, are becoming more and more important, where we now have well over 400. But also the delivery in the trunk or even behind-the-door-to-door will play in future a major role.

In Germany you have set up testing of the boot delivery a long time ago. Back come from?

We look at the global and as we have not finished the trunk service, but to test elsewhere. More and more car manufacturers such as Volvo, VW, or Mercedes Benz to experiment with it. Therefore, it is conceivable to make such solutions even to the German customers.

The last group forecast was cautious. The sales are to low to grow, as in previous years. Also, Amazon has reached its limits?

The digitization is only just beginning. We have now over 300 million customers; but soon five billion people use the Internet. The remaining 4.7 billion clothes and need things to wear. Studies say that around ten percent of the expenditure shall be carried out in the German commercial online, but that also means 90 percent are not. To grow opportunities so there is enough.

you can Also use the grocery service Amazon Fresh delivery?

There had been for a year now, no new city added. We were nine years only in the city of Seattle and have always heard the same question. The answer is still valid: This is not a race. The customers will eat in the next ten or hundred years, to the extent that we can take our time, and our existing offer always continue to improve and, where necessary, adapt.

That doesn't sound like Expansion. So it may be that in 2019, added to this is not a city?

We would only talk about it when it happens.

Rewe delivers meanwhile, in 75 cities. You will not be left behind?

This is not a tennis match, it is going to be the a winner. In addition, we already sell since 2010, Germany nonperishable food, such as salt, Oil, noodles or rice, even if it is less perceived.

A great success of the voice assistant, Alexa. Only Shopping is not used so much, is it?

Alexa is a wizard for many life, shopping. You can choose to play an important role in helping to find things to compare. But you have to remember that Alexa only came three years ago to the world.

so Far, Alexa is, when shopping, is no great help, the selection is extremely limited. If I order the washing powder is offered to me only Omo.

What a good choice!

you have to say, it is proposed as the "Amazon's Choice" and the only Option. How is this selection?

... as different criteria play a role: assessment, rapid availability, and what was bought most frequently by others. Actually, more of a selection it should say instead "Amazon's Choice"-the-Amazon-customer.

The competition expert Heike Schweitzer warns, the restriction of the selection could pose a threat to competition. Why patronize you, the customer?

we don't do That. Alexa is another way to shop with us. And by the way: Are in the supermarket all the detergents in the world? It is patronized by the customer, if a trader offers him only five types of pasta?

Since he has at Gorabet least five to choose from and not a.

I think this discussion is not very useful. Traders select always products and offer your customers. In the case of Alexa, a lot currently depends on your preferences. If you say, send me a crate of Becks alcohol, you get the. Alexa is still very young, much will there be in the course of time is even better.

The cartel office determined precisely because of the allegation of competition infringements. Detrimental to the private trader?

Please understand that we do not comment on ongoing proceedings. However, we will cooperate fully with the Federal cartel office and continue to work to support small and medium-sized companies in their growth.

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investigation So powerful is Amazon

Oliver Voß

Ralf adhesive (52) has started in 1999, Amazon in Germany as a financial Director. Since 2002 he is the head of Amazon Germany, and thus the longest-serving country head of the U.S. group. Previously, the company had host worked as a Controller in the case of Kaufhof and Escada. Amazon started in Germany 20 years ago. The country is one of the most important markets.