Amazon bets on short-term lending for q-comm growth

INVENTORY-LIGHT MODEL SEEN REDUCING CASH BURN

- YARUQHULLAH KHAN & ANEES HUSSAIN

AMAZON INDIA IS betting on a short-term lending model to fuel the growth of its quick-commerce brand, Amazon Now, without burning cash like many of its competitors in the segment, multiple executives aware of Amazon’s plans told FE.

"Unlike traditional quick service players here, Amazon is not looking to spend a lot of money to create inventory / stock at its dark stores; instead, Amazon is planning to offer short-term working capital loans to sellers to manage inventory for the company,” a senior executive from Amazon India said.

He added that Amazon’s focus is to grow its quick commerce channels of the Amazon Now brand through partnerships with local wholesale vendors of fast-moving consumer goods, electronics and white goods in major cities in India.