JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 13, 2019/ -- First international digital road
freight platform to be launched in the continent; Provides shippers and
carriers a one-stop platform for road freight connections for domestic
shipments within South Africa and international movements to several
neighbouring countries; Further expansion to connect shippers and
carriers within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is planned for early 2020.
Digital freight forwarder Saloodo! (www.Saloodo.com), a subsidiary of DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international
provider of air, sea and road freight services, today launched its
digital logistics platform for shippers and transport providers in South Africa, bringing the first digital road freight solution to the region.
An efficient road freight network is a key conduit of trade within a
geographically wide-spread country such as South Africa but also with 16 landlocked countries within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, much of
the region’s road freight operations remain fragmented and highly
traditional, missing out on the visibility, efficiency and security that logistics technology offers.
“Digital transformation is a top
priority for the industry and given the demographics, we expect demand
for digital transformation to be driven by emerging markets globally,”
said Tobias Maier, CEO of Saloodo! Middle East and Africa. “Africa is
the world’s youngest continent (https://bit.ly/2XcOAMM) with 60% of the continent below 25. This is a dynamic generation of
digitally-minded young adults, demanding smart, digital solutions both
on the business and home front.”
With South Africa as its launch
pad into Sub-Saharan Africa, Saloodo! is the first digital logistics
platform available in the region that offers a single, simple and
reliable interface for shippers and transport providers to best optimize cost, routes, cargo and transit times. Backed by DHL’s global and
regional footprint and expertise, all contractual relationships on the
platform are organized via the existing local DHL entity, providing
trust and peace of mind to carriers and shippers alike.
“With
real-time visibility, Saloodo! will inject greater transparency and
efficiency to the road network in the region, enabling shippers – from
small enterprises and start-ups to large multinational groups - to find
trusted and reliable freight carriers in South Africa. This will in turn help carriers manage existing fleets and optimize capacity with full
truckload shipments,” Maier added.
With a market value of R 121.1 billion (~€7.5 billion) in 2018, road freight volumes in South Africa have been increasing steadily (https://bit.ly/2rB3SPq), exhibiting a growth of 5.6% in June 2019 when compared to the previous
corresponding period. Equally, intra-Africa exports already accounted
for 26 per cent and 12 per cent (https://bit.ly/2rFSWAc) of South Africa’s 2018 total exports and imports respectively - almost 50% (https://bit.ly/33VGXMU) of which are with neighboring countries in this landlocked region.
The intuitive and simple-to-use platform was first launched in 2017 in
Germany to connect companies and transport providers within Germany or
from Germany throughout Europe. Moving swiftly into emerging markets,
the digital freight service was introduced in the Middle East (https://bit.ly/2qRQ1nK) just six months ago where some 350 shippers are already registered.
Collectively, the service has grown to more than 30,000 shippers and
over 12,000 carriers covering 35 countries. During this time, the trucks managed by Saloodo! have travelled a total distance of 18 million km,
which is equivalent to approximately 450 round-the-globe trips or more
than 23 voyages to the moon and back.
About Saloodo!
Saloodo! (www.Saloodo.com) combines the best of two worlds: The digital freight platform, founded
by Deutsche Post DHL Group in 2016, combines the logistics expertise and infrastructure of a global player with the flexibility and digital
skills of a start-up. Saloodo! simplifies the day-to-day processes of
shippers and hauliers with a powerful end-to-end, digital solution for
commissioning and handling shipments. This maximizes the transparency
and efficiency of the entire transport process.
By offering the
free choice of a neutral online marketplace and the security and
convenience of a digital freight forwarder, Saloodo! is the answer to
the progressive digitization in the highly fragmented transport market.
About DHL – The logistics company for the world:
DHL (www.DHL.com) is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family
of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping
and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean
transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 380,000
employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL
connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global
trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and
industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy,
automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility
and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively
positioned as “The logistics company for the world”.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 61 billion euros in 2018.