Amazon’s ‘I Have Space’ aids local stores expand business amid pandemic

New Delhi, Oct 22 : The ongoing pandemic and the lockdowns have had a severe impact on local stores and as the restrictions were lifted, they started getting back to business. Several offline stores and retailers have also integrated themselves with the online segment to expand their business avenues to an omni-channel network.
In this process, Amazon India’s ‘I Have Space’ (IHS) programme has played a major role with over 28,000 neighbourhood and kirana stores in nearly 350 towns and cities in the country.
Under the programme, the e-commerce major partners with local store owners to provide pickup and delivery services to customers across different cities within a 2-4 kilometre radius of the store.
On an average, Amazon India’s store partners deliver between 30 to 40 packages a day, earning a fixed amount per delivery.
Ramadevi, owner of Chennai-based Aarogyamatha Automobiles who enrolled herself into the programme in 2019 said: “The regular income from this programme has really been a blessing for my family. I know my local neighbourhood and I felt that this was the perfect job for me.” The average income earned through the programme by a neighbourhood store is Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000.