Meet Amazon India's Delivery Service Partner, Sunil Khandiya: A successful entrepreneur giving employment to local youth in Vadodara
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. These individuals take adversity head-on and view challenges as opportunities for learning, growth and advancement; Vadodara-based Sunil Kumar Khandiya is one among them.
Back in 2014, Sunil found himself in a financial bind due to a bad investment in his distribution business. This setback, however, did not deter him from following his entrepreneurial dreams. As the single breadwinner and caregiver for his aging parents, Sunil explored multiple avenues and found his calling when he heard about Amazon’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program from a friend.
In 2015, Sunil joined Amazon India’s last mile network as a Delivery Service Partner (DSP) and started V Care Services in Morbi, Gujarat with just three employees and a few shipments a day. He found that his dedication as well as resilience paid off. “I was equally amazed and relieved that a global brand like Amazon was willing to take a chance on a regular person without any financial backing or investment to get things off the ground,” says Sunil.
Amazon India works with a plethora of entrepreneurs across the country, as part of the DSP program. This is a delivery program where Amazon India partners with Small and Mid-sized Businesses (SMBs) to deliver packages to Amazon customers. The DSP program has not only helped Amazon India expand its reach into India’s hinterlands but also provided growth avenues for SMBS. Today, Amazon India’s Delivery Service Partner Network has more than doubled to 1700 stations across 750+ cities, enabling it to seamlessly manage last-mile deliveries across the country.
When Sunil started off, he had had limited funds at his disposal and chose to rent an office, which doubled up as his home. He continued this until his business stabilized but he has never once looked back. Speaking about his journey, Sunil says, “Amazon gave me the ground beneath my feet from which I could shoot for the stars. Even today, from workforce training and re-training, to streamlining processes for a rapidly growing business like ours, Amazon has been extremely forthcoming with guidance and support.”
From just three employees in 2015, V Care Services has grown to employ over 800 motivated individuals spanning a network of delivery stations across Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Sunil’s company today delivers thousands of packages a day through its network for Amazon India. With V Care Services, Amazon’s delivery footprint has reached tiny hamlets and towns like Rajpipla, Karjan, Pamoli, and Dahej to name a few.
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Sunil has earned the respect of his friends and family for not only turning his own life around but also generating employment and empowering the youth of his community. In addition to the 800-strong full-time workforce, Sunil also provides part-time opportunities to associates during festive or peak seasons.
Thanking Amazon for the well-timed intervention in his life, Sunil adds, “I had to borrow my friend’s bike to go for my first meeting with Amazon India in 2015. It’s been a long and fulfilling journey ever since. Today, I can afford a comfortable life for my aging parents and myself. These four years have transformed not just my life but also my outlook towards business and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
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