Following a new agreement launched today that offers it access to Jumia’s last-mile delivery infrastructure, global logistics and package delivery provider UPS will utilize Jumia’s network across Africa to expand its presence on the continent. UPS clients may now pick up or drop off items for international shipping at Jumia’s locations in Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. The relationship is being expanded to Ghana and the Ivory Coast, with the rest of Africa (Algeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, and South Africa) to follow.
Jumia started creating its logistics company seven years ago, owing to the fragmented nature of the logistics industry and as a strategy to expand the amount of orders placed on its e-commerce platform outside of cities – by allowing clients in rural locations to place orders. After solely reserving it for e-commerce and food merchants participating on its platform, Jumia expanded its logistics marketplace to third parties in 2020.
“Logistics infrastructure was one of the most demanding components of our working environment 10 years ago when we started our adventure (launch of the e-commerce platform).” This problem inspired us to create an unrivaled logistics network in Africa that provides our merchants and customers with dependable, convenient, and cost-effective delivery services,” said Apoorva Kumar, Jumia’s senior vice president of logistics. “Today, by providing access to our logistics platform, we are assisting other firms in overcoming similar infrastructural difficulties.” The chance to work with UPS, a global logistics giant, to provide last-mile solutions in Africa excites and humbles us.
“We see this as a proof of our logistics platform’s strength, as well as an encouragement to further up our efforts to improve our services and establish a world-class logistics business in Africa,” Kumar added. Jumia utilizes roughly 600 last-mile delivery partners in its logistics marketplace, the majority of whom are small logistics companies. The e-commerce company has 3,000 pickup stations throughout 11 African regions, all of which are supported by technology that “aggregates demand and connects it with supply capacity based on many characteristics such as quality of service, network reachability, and delivery cost.”
“UPS’ asset-light approach, like the Jumia partnership, allows businesses to connect to new customers around the world quickly and reliably through our global network, potentially accelerating revenue growth,” said Gregory Goba Ble, UPS vice president of engineering and operations for the Indian subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa.
