DHL tapping into Africa’s growing use of mobile technology

As advancements in mobile technology continue to improve Africa’s connection to global markets, DHL has introduced more scanners to give customers real-time parcel tracking. In a statement issued today (1 August), Hennie Heymans, the CEO of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), said that the rise of mobile commerce has “driven 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”.

Heymans continued: “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.”