With the logistics industry thriving for innovation, new growth opportunities in the sector have led to micro-sized businesses taking a central role in servicing Indian customers. As people continue to expect faster deliveries, companies like Amazon are strengthening all parts of their network, including their middle mile operations, which connect the fulfillment network with the delivery network. This has opened avenues for small businesses to leverage their on-ground knowledge and power the company’s ability to increase the speed of transportation between the two miles while serving as a median to connect India.
Tapping into this opportunity, many entrepreneurs have been able to build and scale their business with Amazon India; Dhanbad-based Birendra Kumar Singh is one among them.
Birendra, the owner of Jyoti Services Pvt. Ltd., started his career as a delivery boy at a postal service company, where he developed the thought of becoming an entrepreneur. He eventually ventured into logistics business by plying vehicles, catering to the requirements of FMCG companies. Soon after, he partnered with Amazon in 2019 to run middle-mile operations.
His determination to become an entrepreneur resulted in success, allowing him to expand his fleet inventory from 8 to 56 vehicles. He says, “Working with Amazon India has played a pivotal role in developing new insights about e-Commerce space and it has helped in redefining my vision of a “customer-first” approach. I have truly discovered my entrepreneurial journey and to be able to help people in the process was more satisfying than I could imagine.”
The efforts of Birendra as well as his associates have not only ensured seamless deliveries but have also cemented the role of its backbone, enabling them to upscale and be self-reliant.
Abhinav Singh, Director – Amazon Transportation Services, said “Trucking partners are the backbone of our operations, powering our ability to increase the speed of transportation between fulfilment centers and the last mile. Theirs is a pivotal role in ensuring on-time deliveries and we are focussed on enabling them with cutting-edge technology.”
“In line with our commitment to aid small businesses across the country, we have worked with our partners and custom-built programs for them to gain financial flexibility, safe driving techniques, route knowledge, maintenance, and procurement programs from large OEMs. We believe that the idea of an Atmanirbhar Bharat is powered by these enterprising businesses and are proud to be empowering them,” he further added.
While these partners continue to travel the length and breadth of India, health and safety remains to be a priority. Partners and associates are following all preventative health measures such as adherence to social distancing norms and use of face covering, among 100 other measures.
With the last year constraining operations for these trucking partners, the company introduced the Partner Support Fund that allows partners in the middle-mile to support more than 40,000 of their associates through financial hardships, and to help cover critical fixed costs and liquidity concerns. Amazon India also extended the ‘Amazon Relief Fund’ to all eligible trucking partners providing transportation support in the event of financial hardships.
