Technology

DHL turns to new technology with an eye on e-commerce

DHL

Andrew Mutuma, DHL Country Manager Kenya. PHOTO | COURTESY

DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa has acquired pocket-sized, all-touch computers as it eyes the rising e-commerce.

The rise of e-commerce and increased competition are driving demand for real-time supply chain visibility, which is the reason DHL is investing in the technology.

The acquired TC55 scanners operate on an Android platform and in addition to the ease of use, they also have built-in location services and GPS navigation capability.

The technology increases the speed at which DHL can process shipments at both customer locations and its facilities and also enable its employees to access real-time shipment information which is crucial to workload management.

For DHL customers the Tc55 scanners offer real-time shipment visibility, enhanced electronic proof of delivery and on-time billing.

Captured accurately

Andrew Mutuma, DHL Express Kenya Country Manager, said the firm operates across 51 markets in Sub-Saharan Africa, servicing over 40,000 customers.

“As a network business, we need to ensure that our shipment data is captured accurately and in real-time.

‘‘Our growth plans and improvements are driven by the voice of our customer and in challenging and competitive global environments they need us to provide accurate and real-time information to ensure that they maintain their competitive edge and speed to market,” Mr Mutuma said.

Unlike their consumer-grade counterparts, these devices have integrated data-capture capabilities and are also built to endure the wear and tear of industrial environments,” said Mr Mutuma.

Mr Oliver Facey, the Vice President of Operations for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, said that supply chain operators should invest in transportation management systems and solutions to improve the quality, speed and precision of service.

He explained that the improvements will not only enhance customer experience but also reduce operating costs and give operators a competitive advantage.

DHL Express has introduced 400 TC55 units in four of their largest markets in Sub-Saharan Africa: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Mauritius.

Further deployment of the technology to their top 20 markets across the region will take place in coming months.

“We want to simplify the lives of our customers and ensure that we remain the provider of choice for international express. Our relentless focus on new capabilities ensures that we are well positioned to support our customers’ business,” said Mr Facey.