A Rare Peek Inside Amazon’s Massive Wish-Fulfilling Machine | Business | WIRED

I suppose they could always use the warehouse facilities as data centers, if the whole e-tail thing doesn't work out...

"Unlike past advances in retail gratification–the emergence of the supermarket in the mid-20th century, say, or the more recent rise to dominance of Walmart superstores–the workings of Amazon are almost entirely hidden from view. Amazon doesn’t want customers focused on the mechanics of its seemingly magical powers. But last month, the company gave WIRED a rare glimpse into one of the more than 90 warehouses it operates across the globe, looking to show that its fulfillment machine is finely tuned not just to serve Amazon itself but anyone else who wants to sell stuff on its site."

A Rare Peek Inside Amazon’s Massive Wish-Fulfilling Machine | Business | WIRED