While there is a lot of news about Amazon and its treatment of workers etc, it's also investing worldwide in assistive technologies to make workers' lives easier.

Amazon learned early on: don't make workers travel, lift, bend - to the extent possible. A new supply chain innovation lab in Italy is continuing that trend.

Here are a few areas of innovation?

1. Pallet Mover: Elimination of forklifts to move items - instead pallets move via a robotic arm.

2. Tote Retriever: Lifting plastic totes from the ground or a lower platform onto a conveyor. Also small robotic arms for sorting, stacking, etc.

This is basically a PR piece, but it's useful to learn about the areas Amazon is continuing to invest in.