Following Amazon's $57m (£37m) loss in the first quarter of 2015, a report by ParcelHero suggests this is not a major blow for the company, but rather “paves the way for future profits and a shopping revolution”.
The report, entitled Amazon’s Prime Ambition, explains what ParcelHero calls a “revolution” in the company’s supply chain, largely based around the expansion of Amazon Logistics.
By rolling out its own logistics company, which Amazon started trialling in the UK back in 2012, the company will apparently save $3bn per annum, according to ParcelHero’s report.
ParcelHero founder Roger Summer-Rivers said: "ParcelHero works closely with all the major international couriers and that puts us in a unique position to understand how the logistics market is shaping for the future.
"Our analysis of Amazon’s bold aims for its Prime services, have led to some startling conclusions. Amazon’s ultimate aim for its new distribution arm, Amazon Logistics, is, we believe, that it becomes a logistics company in its own right, competing with companies such as UPS and Royal Mail."
Summer-Rivers added: "The move will save Amazon $3bn a year globally and £122m in the UK alone. Amazon currently spends at least 9% of its sales income on transport costs and this would more than offset the $57m quarterly net loss, but its ultimate delivery aims will boost its income far more significantly in the future."
Elsewhere, Amazon has recently poured money into developing its delivery drones and Amazon Dash – the new service that allows customers to replenish a household product at the push of a button - and it seems to have no intention of slowing down - because popping out to a shop is so 2013.
The overall impression, then, is that Amazon doesn't have to worry about losing some trivial billions at this point because, in time, it will be running the internet, if not the planet.
Amazon web services founder Jeff Bezos said: “Born a decade ago, Amazon Web Services is a good example of how we approach ideas and risk-taking at Amazon. We strive to focus relentlessly on the customer, innovate rapidly, and drive operational excellence.
"We manage by two seemingly contradictory traits: impatience to deliver faster and a willingness to think long term."
Amazon's latest results show a 15% increase in net sales to $22.72bn compared with the first quarter of 2014.