In 2015, when Sabiha Mulla first reached out to Amazon, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had yet to be touched by the growing wave of e-commerce that was already sweeping across India. A researcher from Mumbai University with a thesis on island seaway trade routes, Sabiha saw the need for efficient logistics in this remote part of the country and decided to enroll in the Amazon Delivery Service Partner program.
“I had written to Amazon expressing interest in supporting logistics for the region,” she recalls. “They replied, and soon after, we launched operations in Port Blair. That was in July 2015, and it was the beginning of everything.”
Since then, Sabiha has grown from managing one delivery associate and a 120 sq. ft space, to operating out of a 3,000 sq. ft hub. Together, they deliver thousands of packages daily across Port Blair, Bamboo Flat and Havelock islands, bringing joy, accessibility, and modern convenience to the islanders and financial freedom to the delivery executives.
Breaking barriers
Driving change in logistics on the islands came with its share of challenges, right from poor internet speeds (sometimes as low as 80 kbps), frequent power outages, patchy flight connectivity, and unpredictable weather. The islands have eight months of rain, thanks to both the northeast and southwest monsoons.
“We’ve had to learn to adapt to challenges. Today, we are better prepared, and have in place safety protocols to ensure our delivery associates are protected and operations remain uninterrupted,” Sabiha says.
Bringing e-commerce convenience to the islands
What started as a novelty quickly became a necessity. The islanders were still sceptical about ordering online. “Earlier, people would ask ‘Why shop online?’ Today, it’s part of their everyday life,” Sabiha explains. In fact, Amazon was one of the few e-commerce players to bring the concept of cash-on-delivery and reverse logistics or pickup services to the island. The response was overwhelming.
She remembers some of the early deliveries. “One of the first deliveries was a dog bone paid via cash-on-delivery. The other memorable delivery is a wheelchair that a resident had ordered for his elderly mother, who had mobility challenges. They were so happy when the wheelchair got delivered to their doorstep,” she says.
With improved infrastructure and internet connectivity, there are many e-commerce players now active in the islands. Sabiha has plans to expand access through local micro-hubs staffed by residents who can deliver to harder-to-reach areas. “In upcoming times, we hope to reach more remote islands and ensure everyone here can access the same conveniences as anyone on the mainland,” she says.
What began with one delivery associate is now a thriving team led by Sabiha. "The appreciation and recognition from Amazon has always been there, and it is what has helped us stay committed through these 10 years,” she says.
