One of the biggest issues that are faced by retailers all around the world including Amazon is the logistics. There constant juggling acts comprises of maintaining the warehouses, managing the stocks as well as the management of the shipping orders. Retailers are looking out for options where they can cut out all these hassles, create an item on receiving the demand and delivering the products directly to the customers. According to a recent patent application filed by Amazon, they are targeting this future by looking out to replace their old warehouse model with 3D printing.

Patent Application

The patent application displayed how the company can implement 3D printing on demand. A vague idea behind this printing indicates a process wherein the customer places an order on Amazon, the order printing instructions are then sent to the closest available 3D-printing device. Then the order is delivered to the customers when the order has been completed. The most amazing part of this patent highlights that the 3D printer can be either in the truck on a warehouse.

This is not the only innovative concept that has been seen from the company’s end. Even before this, they came up with the idea of household one-click buttons and infamous delivery done. The company has continued their research for realm of 3D printing. 2014 saw the company partnered with Mixee labs to deliver 3D-printed goods and this partnership can be expected to grow in 2015. People need to remember that this patent is no proof about the company venturing into the 3D printing completely.

Usually big companies file for patents that they might be intending to research on and might not even use it in the future. Even if Amazon is intending to implement this technology, it might have limited use in the future. However, at the end it is hard to believe that the company will be able to deliver what they are intending in the future. According to the patent application, there are numerous subtractions and additions but it is quite difficult for the company to deliver something this complicated and that too soon.

For the most part according to the patent, the 3D printing technology has been kept focused on the realm of plastics. There are other materials and intricate assemblies are possible, however this method is not 3D-printed goods cost effective as well as quick from what it looks. The fact remains that the company will not looking forward to any kind of D-printing an internal combustion engine for the customers anytime soon. If you are among the people who are thinking about the back scratcher or a cutting board then this might seem more plausible. Irrespective of the fact, whether the company is going the mount the 3D printers inside of their delivery fleet, there should not be any doubt pertaining to the core 3D-printing technology as it is expected to continuously grow in future and will show an increase in its importance for retailers.