Amazon Flex hub operations halted in B’ville

Amazon has apparently halted operations at its small Flex delivery hub in Batesville, leaving local economic development officials looking for answers and hoping the company will resume operations.

The facility, identified in Amazon’s delivery network as ASM3, operated from space rented from the North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative in the Batesville industrial park.

Panola Partnership CEO Joe Azar said his organization devoted considerable time and resources to recruiting the Amazon operation to Batesville. Amazon continues to pay rent on the space, he said, despite delivery operations apparently having stopped.

Azar said neither the City of Batesville nor Panola County has received an explanation from Amazon about the change or been told whether the shutdown is temporary or permanent.

“All we know are the rumors we hear, like everyone else, and we certainly hope they are not true,” Azar said. “We can see they are not currently using the facility, and we are trying to learn more.”

There were indications in early August that something was changing at the Batesville location. Amazon Flex drivers discussing the ASM3 station online reported a sharp decline in available delivery blocks followed by the cancellation of scheduled routes.

Drivers said Amazon notified them not to report for scheduled blocks.

Amazon Flex uses independent contractors who deliver packages using their personal vehicles. The Batesville operation was considerably smaller than the large Amazon fulfillment centers that employ hundreds of workers.

Questions have circulated locally about whether missing packages or theft may have contributed to the decision, but there has been no confirmation from Amazon that theft played any role.

Azar said the Partnership has received several complaints from area residents who reported tracking information showing packages reaching the Batesville Flex location but not subsequently being delivered.

No statistics are available showing how frequently that occurred, and the Partnership has no information establishing what happened to those packages.

For now, local officials are seeking information rather than assuming the Batesville operation is permanently gone.

Azar said Panola Partnership plans to contact Amazon to learn more about the status of ASM3 and determine whether anything can be done locally to help restore operations.

Batesville and Panola County officials want to keep the Amazon operation, particularly after local economic development officials worked to bring the delivery service to the community.

Amazon’s continued payment of rent on the industrial park space leaves open the possibility that the company’s departure may not be permanent. Local officials are hoping direct communication with Amazon will provide an answer.