Inside Amazon’s California warehouse: A blend of robotics and human labor

Thousands of workers perform essential functions such as picking, packing, loading trailers, resolving jams, and handling damaged goods, stepping in when the automated systems encounter challenges. Business Insider recently toured the Tracy facility to observe this evolving work environment.

Upon entry, workers and visitors pass through security checkpoints. Inside, Hercules robots transport towering yellow inventory pods to employee workstations, while robotic arms like Robin and Cardinal automate package handling. Packages are placed on Pegasus mobile robots and then loaded into carts by the Cardinal arm, which are subsequently moved by Proteus robots toward outbound trucks. Human employees still manage the final truck loading process, optimizing package placement within trailers.

Process assistants, like Briana Brager, oversee the robotic systems, responding to issues such as jammed chutes or malfunctioning robots. When robots require maintenance, they are sent to a diagnostic center for inspection and repair. A designated area, nicknamed “Jackpot,” handles packages that become misplaced, with human workers ensuring they are rerouted to their correct destinations.

The Tracy facility currently employs over 3,000 people, a significant increase from approximately 1,000 when it opened in 2023. Mohammed Khan, who began as an entry-level picker 12 years ago and is now a senior manager, notes that the robots have streamlined workflows rather than reduced the overall workload, changing how tasks are approached. Amazon states that its next-generation fulfillment centers are 25% more productive and support roughly 30% more skilled jobs.