AMAZON - HI-TECH BUT SIMPLE

Amazon in India believes in scaling up faster using technology, simplifying processes and rigorously auditing itself to disrupt and reinvent HR industry standards

- GOUTAM DAS

Many pillars underpin the future of work. The eight-hour workday is nearly dead; working from anywhere is in vogue; physical work spaces are becoming less structured; independent contractors, or gig workers, are now an important part of the people mix in many companies.

If you were to scout for companies in India that appear ready for this futuristic world, Amazon would be one of them. The company today employs 63,000 full time in India, some of them at the cutting-edge of technology – in areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Amazon also engages a large gig workforce, many of whom deliver parcels to our homes. Keeping employees happy across such a wide spectrum isn’t easy, but then Amazon’s human resources (HR) practice works much like other business units in the company. It is about scaling faster through technology, simplifying processes, and rigorously auditing themselves to disrupt and reinvent HR industry standards. The HR folks at the company like to experiment a lot.

Many of these experiments do work. Amazon has rearranged the pecking order in the 2019 Best Companies to Work For survey. The company ranks No. 2, behind Google and ahead of IT services exporter TCS. The year before, Amazon ranked behind Google, Accenture and TCS. A good benefits package, career-growth path, and challenging work opportunities propelled it up the ladder. Like other good companies, Amazon hires smart people, gets them excited, and then supports them. The culture is that of empowerment.