Service introduced in Chennai too.
By Dileep Thekkethil
Amazon’s first ever all-women delivery station, a pilot project in which women in two-wheeler vehicles will collect and deliver orders to consumers, has started in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
According to Amazon, it’s the first time that the company is testing the all-women delivery station and they hope this initiative will lead to a new revenue source for women, a majority of whom are homemakers.
Deepthi Pramod, one of the seven women who is in charge of Amazon’s all-women station in Thiruvananthapuram said she initially didn’t approve of leaving home but when she came to know that she has an option of flexible work hours, she enrolled herself as a delivery woman, reported The Times of India.
“I earn money as well as have enough time at home. The moment I finish my share of deliveries for the day, I am free to go home,” Deepthi said.
Sandhya, 34, was apprehensive about carrying bags and packages on the two-wheeler, making calls to buyers and ensuring that the packages are delivered to the right address. However, she is now comfortable in her routine, she said.
According to Divya, who currently manage the Amazon all-women delivery station in Thiruvananthapuram, said they deliver close to 40 packages a day within a radius of 2 to 4 km around their workstation. The delivery women are given training by Amazon which equals their male counterparts.
Samuel Thomas, Amazon India’s Director for Transportation, was quoted by the Times of India, saying, “We are committed to supporting women explore and succeed in what was otherwise a very male dominated sector and look forward to helping them attain financial independence.”
The package delivery service operated by women started in January in Kerala and was introduced in Chennai last week.