01From a critical capacity gap to a new 3PL operating model
A delayed Sort Centre left Amazon without sufficient sortation capacity in Rome ahead of Peak 2020. The original internal alternative required substantial upfront investment and carried material construction and execution risk. A viable solution had to be approved, contracted and made operational within a compressed timeline, without transferring unsustainable productivity assumptions or hidden costs to the future operation.
GIULIO’S RESPONSIBILITYAs Senior Program Manager for Southern Europe Launches, Giulio assessed the available scenarios, built the case for Amazon’s first outsourced ATS Sort Centre in Europe and owned the solution from approval through launch. When the internal procurement team did not have sufficient capacity to run the sourcing process, he also took direct responsibility for the RFP and commercial negotiation.
- Compared the options on capacity, cash requirements, timing and execution risk
- Adapted service requirements and financial templates to a sortation environment
- Challenged supplier bids based on unrealistic throughput assumptions and negotiated a sustainable model
- Defined responsibilities for labour, equipment, maintenance and site management
- Coordinated contractual readiness, launch and operational ramp up
- €9M+ cash flow savings delivered versus the original internal model
- €3M+ upfront investment avoided
- Variable cost per unit approximately 50% below the regional average after six months
- Facility launched on 1 September 2020, before Peak
The project solved the immediate Rome capacity gap and established Amazon’s first outsourced ATS Sort Centre model in Europe. It created a repeatable blueprint for evaluating 3PL sortation capacity through total cash, delivery risk and sustainable operating economics, rather than headline supplier price alone.

