Glovo picks Nairobi for its all-markets real-time operations hub

A Glovo delivery boda boda outside Java House on Kimathi Street in Nairobi on October 25, 2019.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

Spanish delivery platform Glovo has picked Nairobi as its preferred city to set up a real-time operations (RTO) centre that will serve as a hub from where the firm will oversee instantaneous operations across all the 23 countries in which it operates.

Glovo said the hub, which is set to be its largest globally, will comprise over 160 agents running operations round the clock.

As part of its key functions, the hub will be instrumental in driving the firm’s operational efficiency, enforcing compliance and seamless onboarding for riders across multiple regions, as well as offering localised language support in Arabic, French, and other languages for key markets.

“The RTO centre will become a hub for Kenya’s vibrant and talented Gen Z workforce, showcasing the country’s potential to lead in global innovation,” Glovo Kenya General Manager Caroline Mutuku, said on Wednesday during a site visit by investment promotion Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan.

Glovo's head of public and government relations for sub-Saharan Africa Chidera Akwuba stressed the firm’s ambition to leverage Kenya’s innovative ecosystem to create long-term value and impact for the country’s economy.

“Glovo’s partnerships with Kenyan businesses and stakeholders align with our vision of sustainable economic growth. By supporting SMEs, leveraging Kenya’s innovative ecosystem, and fostering collaboration, we aim to create long-term value and impact for the Kenyan economy,” said Ms Akwuba.

“Our operations in Kenya reflect our commitment to social impact, SME empowerment, and inclusive development.”

In April last year, a market study commissioned by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) showed that Glovo was the most preferred digital platform for the delivery of food and groceries in Kenya, posting a 33 percent score for the most used platform for the aforementioned consumer needs.

The platform is involved in the delivery of various products, including food, and was described by CAK as a pioneering multi-category delivery platform covering markets in Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Mr Hassan said the planned Glovo RTO centre would be a model of innovation driving the country’s digital economic transformation. 

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