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Soon, mall-based retailers will be able to deliver directly to their customer’s doorsteps with the help of Amazon’s flex drivers. The retail giant is testing this new service nationwide, and pilot programs are popping up in Las Vegas, Arizona, Virginia, and Texas, with more to come.
Under the program, Amazon customers have the choice of getting an item quicker if they opt to have the merchandise shipped directly from the local mall instead of a warehouse.
Amazon Flex, launched in 2015, is a component of the company’s fast-growing in-house logistics division. The program enlists drivers to deliver packages from their personal vehicles and operates in over 50 cities. The Flex driver experiment helps diminish Amazon’s reliance on its enormous distribution centers.
Amazon isn’t alone in offering fast delivery from retailers. On-demand delivery companies like DoorDash, Uber, Postmates, and Instacart have expanded beyond food and grocery delivery, offering other types of products from local and national retailers.
