The Scary Ways Amazon is Dominating Almost Everything

Amazon is the world's largest online retailer, selling everything from books to electronics to groceries. Over the years, Amazon has transformed from a small online bookstore to a retail giant that dominates almost everything. Here are five scary ways that Amazon is dominating almost everything:\r \r 1. The Amazon Marketplace\r \r The Amazon Marketplace is an online platform where third-party sellers can sell their products. According to eMarketer, Amazon controls over 38% of the US e-commerce market. In 2020, the Amazon Marketplace had over 2.5 million active sellers worldwide, selling over 3.4 billion products. The Marketplace allows small businesses and entrepreneurs to reach a massive customer base, but Amazon takes a commission from each sale. This means that Amazon can potentially take over any industry that relies on e-commerce, putting small businesses at a significant disadvantage.\r \r 2. Amazon Web Services (AWS)\r \r Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud computing platform that offers various services such as storage, database, and analytics. AWS is the largest cloud service provider, holding a market share of around 32% in the global cloud market. The platform provides services to millions of customers, including government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. The success of AWS has contributed significantly to Amazon's revenue, generating over $45 billion in 2020. AWS's dominance in the cloud computing industry has led to concerns about its market power and the potential for anti-competitive behavior. Critics argue that Amazon's control over the cloud computing market gives it an unfair advantage in other industries, including e-commerce and media. In recent years, there have been calls to break up Amazon and separate its cloud computing business from its e-commerce operations.\r \r 3. Amazon Prime\r \r Amazon Prime is a subscription-based service that offers various benefits such as free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, and exclusive deals. Prime has become an essential part of Amazon's business strategy, with over 200 million members worldwide. The success of Prime has also contributed to Amazon's dominance in the e-commerce industry. Customers who subscribe to Prime tend to shop more frequently and spend more money on Amazon's platform. Prime has also disrupted the traditional retail industry, with many brick-and-mortar stores struggling to compete with Amazon's two-day shipping and free returns. Amazon's ability to offer fast and convenient delivery has led to changes in consumer behavior, with more customers opting to shop online rather than in-store.\r \r 4. Amazon Advertising\r \r Amazon Advertising is a platform that allows businesses to promote their products and services on Amazon's platform. The advertising platform has become a significant revenue source for Amazon, generating over $20 billion in 2020. The success of Amazon Advertising has also contributed to the company's dominance in the e-commerce industry. Businesses that advertise on Amazon's platform tend to see increased visibility and sales, which can lead to a competitive advantage over other businesses. Critics argue that Amazon's control over its advertising platform gives it an unfair advantage in the e-commerce industry. Amazon has been accused of using its advertising platform to promote its own products over those of its competitors. The company has also been accused of using data from third-party sellers to develop its products, leading to concerns about antitrust violations.\r \r 5. Amazon Logistics\r \r Amazon Logistics is a delivery network that allows Amazon to ship packages directly to customers. The company has invested heavily in its logistics network, including building warehouses and acquiring delivery companies. Amazon Logistics has enabled the company to offer fast and reliable delivery to its customers, which has contributed to its dominance in the e-commerce industry. Amazon's control over its logistics network has also led to concerns about its market power and potential anti-competitive behavior. Critics argue that Amazon's control over its delivery network gives it an unfair advantage over other businesses. The company has been accused of using its logistics network to favor its own products over those of its competitors.