Amazon introduced new one-hour and three-hour delivery options on Tuesday in parts of the United States, expanding its push to speed up order fulfillment and compete in the fast-growing same-day delivery market.
The company said the service allows customers to order from more than 90,000 items, including groceries, household supplies, over-the-counter medications, electronics and clothing. Eligible items appear within Amazon’s same-day delivery interface, with filters indicating delivery windows of one or three hours.
One-hour delivery is available in hundreds of cities and towns, including parts of major metropolitan areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston and Washington, D.C.. The three-hour option is offered in more than 2,000 communities nationwide, including smaller cities and suburban areas.
The rollout builds on Amazon’s existing same-day delivery network, which launched in 2015 and now serves more than 9,000 cities and towns. The company said the faster delivery windows are made possible by using its current fulfillment centers and logistics network.
Udit Madan, senior vice president of worldwide operations at Amazon, said the company is focusing on reducing delivery times as customer demand for convenience increases.
Fees vary by membership status. Prime members can access discounted rates for expedited delivery, while non-members pay higher fees. Standard same-day delivery remains free for qualifying orders for Prime subscribers.
Amazon said the new delivery options are available seven days a week and will expand to additional areas in the coming months.
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