DHL Logistics has launched Salodoo!, a digital road freight platform, that connects shippers and transport providers in South Africa.
Salodoo! which is a subsidiary of DHL Logistics, was first launched in Germany in 2017 and has since grown to involve more than 18,000 shippers and over 7,000 carriers with more than 250,000 trucks travelling to over 25 European countries.
DHL said with South Africa as its launch pad into sub-Saharan Africa, the platform is the first digital logistics 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.
It said much of the region’s road freight operations remained fragmented and highly traditional, missing out on the visibility, efficiency and security that logistics technology offered.
“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! The Middle East and Africa.
“Africa is the world’s youngest continent with 60 per cent 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 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.
The global logistics firm appears to be giving significant attention to Africa. In the last weeks, it added 13 more countries to its DHL Africa eShop App.
