Amazon and small businesses face COVID

Amazon and small French companies, it’s a half-hearted story. Indeed, the American platform is once again in the sights of the European Commission on suspicion of anti-competitive practice. Meanwhile, it is implementing actions to help small French companies overcome the Covid crisis by switching to online sales. Between springboard and competition for independent sellers, Amazon seems to shyly choose its side. In any case, since its creation the group’s desire is to offer a market place with high visibility to companies. Today and following COVID-19, he is committed to small businesses to help them follow in the footsteps of digital technology.

The COVID-19 or the acceleration of digital

COVID-19 has an impact on our economy and also on the social level. Indeed, the two containments that have been imposed on us have changed our relationship to consumption. Our habits have been disrupted by the closure of shops in particular. But in itself the COVID-19 has not revealed any new problems. It has simply accelerated the shift of our economy to an era rooted in digital. This new era had already begun, but in the territory it had only reached large companies. Indeed, unlike small businesses, large retailers like Amazon, they had all already developed their e-commerce. They have had only a few adjustments to make to meet the growing demand.

Indeed, according to an Opinion Way survey for Proximis, during the containment consumers have revised their way of buying. Online shopping has been a priority. Thus, in this period, the average budget for gifts on the internet is 159 euros compared to 85 euros in store. The transition has been more complicated for small businesses. According to figures given by Google, only 32% of very small French companies own a website (2). These figures reveal France’s lag in this area. As a result, small businesses have had to adapt quickly to continue to operate. As a result, some e-commerce leaders like Amazon are committed to helping small businesses overcome this new stage of development. In Bordeaux, local merchants can be found on the online platform, mavillemonshopping (3). In this sense, COVID-19 brings opportunities to seize.

amazon and small business market place
For small businesses, it’s time to seize the opportunities of digital

Amazon a contested player serving small businesses

Amazon’s idea is to offer a market-place with global visibility to small, medium or large companies adhering to the service. However, this does raise the question of competition. Indeed, it provides independent sellers with a market place. At the same time it offers products as a retailer in this same market place. As powerful as it may be, the platform wants to show solidarity in this context of crisis. It is implementing solidarity actions to help small businesses. Thus, it is launching a free training program to help French entrepreneurs take the digital turn.

Indeed, the first directly impacted by the crisis are small traders. They need to organize themselves to face the digital shift and meet consumer demand. But often helpless, they seem to need support. Amazon offers this long-awaited support to small businesses. With the launch of the Digital Accelerator tool, the platform supports small businesses. The tool was supported in particular by Bpifrance, the State-owned Public Investment Bank and the Caisse des dépôts. The digital accelerator therefore helps to develop the online business. Through online courses and webinars, businesses can acquire all the knowledge they need to sell online. Designed to meet the needs of small businesses, the solution is available free of charge and by simple registration.


Thus, as previously stated, COVID-19 has motivated the acceleration of digital. As a result, it has also induced some responsibility for the major players in the digital sector. A solidarity movement was born. Amazon, like Google, offers its vision to newcomers, small businesses, to succeed in the digital turn. The delay mentioned on territory must thus be seen as a new opportunity to dare, to innovate, and to surpass itself. An ambitious vision that gives small businesses some hope in the face of the gloomy realization of the crisis.

Sources:

(1)“THE FRANKFURT AND THE DONGES OF NO-L IN CONFINEMENT PERIODE“, study by OPINIONWAY and ILOVERETAIL FOR PROXIMIS

(2) “The French Federation of Traders Associations (FFAC) announces the creation of ‘My online showcase’, a digital service dedicated to convenience stores with Google France”,Google Blog, Article of 9 November 2020

(3) mavillemonshopping.fr

(4)“A free training program that accompanies French entrepreneurs step by step in their digital transition”The digital accelerator

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