CAPE
TOWN, South Africa, August 1, 2016/ -- The growth of mobile phones and
services across the African continent has instantly brought many
Africans into the digital age and connected them to worldwide knowledge
and services. Home to one of the world’s fastest growing middle classes,
Africa has seen multiple opportunities emerge for both local and global
retailers from this digital growth.
“Currently, more than 60% of
individuals in sub-Saharan Africa have access to a mobile phone [1]. As
the adoption of mobile technology and increasing internet penetration
in these countries continue to grow, so does the opportunity for
retailers to reach new customers in the region,” says Hennie Heymans,
CEO, DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa.
The World Bank’s 2016 World Development Report,
Digital Dividends [2],
notes that the increased access to digital technologies brings more
choice and greater convenience, and that through inclusion, efficiency
and innovation, access to mobile provides opportunities that were
previously out of reach.
With an established network of over 5
500 retail outlets across SSA, DHL Express provides individuals and SMEs
greater access to global opportunities.
Heymans also adds that
the market opportunities in Africa are ripe. With the rise of mobile
commerce and increased competition, this drives the demand for advances
in technology and logistics, to ensure real-time supply chain visibility
and improved quality, speed and precision of delivery services within
African markets.
“To meet this growing demand, we have
introduced Motorola TC55 scanner units in 26 countries across
Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of our Global Courier Application
deployment. These pocket sized Android-based scanners come equipped with
touchscreens, built-in location services as well as GPS navigation
capabilities, enabling customers to track parcels in real-time. With the
new scanner units, customers are able to sign on the device’s
touchscreen and within 15 minutes, the electronic proof of delivery will
be made available on the DHL.com website.
“As a network
business, it is essential that our shipment data is captured accurately
and in real-time. This data can also be used to measure customer
satisfaction against company KPIs, as well as for process improvements
or route adjustments to increase efficiency and improve customer
service. With this new technology, local and global retailers can
increase the speed at which shipments are processed and delivered to
their clients, thus improving efficiency along the value chain.
“With
operations across 51 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, servicing over
40,000 customers, delivery efficiency is an important factor for us.
With our investment in technology and retail touch point strategy across
the region, we seek to leverage the huge potential in Africa, to ensure
that citizens have access to the opportunities and services that mobile
presents to the region,” concludes Heymans.
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