Amazon has launched Road to Ownership, a 16-week training and development program to help drivers and team members of Amazon Delivery Service Partners (DSPs) someday open their own delivery businesses, according to a company announcement published Friday (June 3).
“The program provides a blended learning experience that includes facilitator-led classes, customized online learning modules, and mentor development sessions with current DSP owners,” the announcement stated. “The curriculum focuses on enhancing participants’ understanding of the critical functions of operating a DSP and fostering business acumen needed to lead a thriving company.”
At the end of the program, candidates unveil their business plans, with graduates getting a grant for $30,000 to cover startup costs and living expenses as they set up their businesses, according to the announcement.
Amazon began the DSP program in 2018 to give up-and-coming entrepreneurs access to Amazon’s operations and logistics expertise, the announcement stated.
In other news, Amazon has been retooling its eCommerce operations, which in turn means that there could be less demand for warehouses and distribution square footage — important components in the middle and last miles of commerce.
Read more: eCommerce Refashions Middle and Last Mile, and Real Estate, Too
The retail giant has begun subleasing some of its warehouse space (it owned about 374 million square feet of space as of the end of last year). Subleasing could have the ripple effect of making the rental markets a bit more price-competitive as well as offering an additional revenue stream for the eCommerce giant.
As PYMNTS has noted in the past, Amazon has been expanding its logistics footprint and has been branching out into everything from planes to warehouse to enlisting its Flex drivers to get orders from mall-centered retail outlets and deliver them to consumers’ homes.
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