Amazon Automates with Algorithms

Most companies that have gone deeply digital have or are starting to automate some of these processes, especially in areas like supply chain and other operations that are already heavily digitized. These can be driven by algorithm which means a process, or a portion of one, that can be driven by computer code, and can adapt to changes in its context.  Its a pretty broad idea, varying from simple numerical adjustments, to very complex predictive and prescriptive analysis based on extensive data.  The latter, sometimes called Machine Learning or AI, has advanced considerably in the last decade.  - FAD

Amazon’s automation goes white collar  More at Technology Review

The ranks of the company’s retail team have dwindled, and algorithms have taken their place.

Some background: Amazon’s use of automation in its warehouses continues to grow. Its robot army now numbers over 100,000 strong.

Office automation: The company’s cubicle jockeys aren’t immune to the algorithmic invasion. What started with shifting ordering and inventory-tracking responsibilities over to software has now expanded to handle tasks like negotiating with major brands. “Computers know what to buy and when to buy, when to offer a deal and when not to,” Neil Ackerman, a former Amazon executive, told Bloomberg. “These algorithms that take in thousands of inputs and are always running smarter than any human.”  .... "