The Logistics Landscape in Kenya: How technology has enhanced logistics in the country

They say that change is constant. Change is ever changing and that something that is ever changing is change itself.

Technology has revolutionized almost everything in almost every sector. The communication and transport sectors have received a major boost from the evolution of technology.

From the time of using smoke signals to send messages to users of foot messengers who could take ages to the use of mobile phones.

If there is a sector that has continued to receive transformation is the transport and logistics sector. Despite the improvements, however, the sector still faces numerous challenges that should be addressed.

Stats show that Kenyans are increasingly ordering for goods and services through logistic companies other than them having to travel in person to access the products or the services. The reasons why Kenyans prefer the use of ordering for goods and services through logistics companies include:

• It is cheaper to order for goods to be delivered as compared to one traveling in person to collect them.
• It saves time. Instead of one traveling, he or she has time to carry out other tasks as the goods or services are being delivered.
• It is convenience as compared to other services.

Consumers are increasingly becoming too demanding in terms of transparency. For instance, a majority of them want a continuous update of the location of the messenger, something most logistic companies cannot do. Some want a faster delivery but are unwilling to cough out an extra coin for the same.

Last week, I got an opportunity of having a chat with Sendy, a firm that was conceived in 2014 but, and one that is fast revolutionizing how deliveries are done. First, it is prudent to note that Kenya’s economy thrives on 80 percent wheels of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs provide 86 percent of employment opportunities in the country. However, stats show that more than 400,000 SMEs in the country die annually with 80 percent of them dying before their second birthday.

Listening to Sendy, one gets a sense of how technology is really transforming the logistical space in Kenya. From the day to day deliveries through boda bodas to big load items that use pickups, vans and trucks.

I also had a chat with one of the social media seller who uses Sendy for all her deliverables. According to the lady, the Sendy platform has made it easy for her to receive and deliver packages across the country.

“The good thing about Sendy is that all packages are insurance protected making it safe, one can also track real time and schedule their delivery ahead of time. Even more interesting is that as a business with so many orders, I can get just one ride, add stops and have deliveries done to multiple destinations making it cheaper for me ,” she said.

Technology has changed everything. It has changed how people do business and how people purchase for goods and services.

For instance, with the enhancement in technology, one does not need a physical office or address to carry out a business. At the moment, a business can be done from anywhere, anytime.

Many people who have used Sendy say that the platform is the best way to improve the logistic sector in Kenya. They have helped give drivers an extra job to earn from, enhanced deliveries through insured packages and many others.

Sendy is an innovative platform that connects customers in need of delivery services, with drivers who are ready to offer such services. It is more of a technological company, creating awareness around need and supply.

Imagine having farm produce from a place like Thika and you don’t have someone to send to deliver it to Marikiti market.  Now imagine having an app, where you go, click on it and get someone who will pick the produce with their pickup, van or truck and deliver it for you to the market. Interesting. Right? That is what Sendy is all about.

Innovation should be left to grow to such an extent that it can self-regulate before official regulation takes shape. We need an honest environment that will enable and support the growth of the industry so that we can be able to create the needed jobs.