Kobo360 is Driving the Evolution of Africa’s Logistics Space

Kobo360 is an Africa logistics tech company whose platform enables cargo owners to request for freight trucks using either a mobile or web application. The cargoes are picked and delivered to a specified location.Founded in 2017 by Obi Ozor and Ife Oyedele II, Kobo360 is creating a digital logistics network that provides an efficient supply chain for end-to-end long-haul freight operations across Africa. The logistics company links and supports cargo owners, cargo recipients, truck owners and drivers.Business Elites Africa caught up with the co-founder Obi to discuss the journey so far and Kobo360’s plans for the future.How has Kobo360 navigated the COVID-19 pandemic? When the pandemic began, approximately 90% of vessels delayed their arrival time by as much as 40 days and berthing time at the ports reduced by up to 50%.  With Africa so heavily reliant on imports from China, the impact was felt across all industries, most of which Kobo360 provides logistics for. These delays, coupled with the tight restrictions at the ports and borders, reduced the movement of goods across the continent by 30%.“The lockdowns and unclear guidelines on essential movement caused a great deal of confusion, which led to thousands of our truck drivers parked in fear of having their vehicles seized or facing harassment.Our goal is to keep Africa moving. We know that slack in transporting goods would mean that people would go without food and medical supplies, businesses large and small would suffer and so would the African economy. We have remained on the frontline and put our resources into ensuring movement across borders, complying with safety measures, on all fronts”.What would you say is the greatest strength of Kobo360?Our greatest strength is in our people, especially our truck drivers who we believe are the lifeblood of the African logistics industry. They are on the roads night and day, keeping Africa moving.We are also very focused on execution and achieving the impossible for our clients whose needs are very important to us. Our customers trust and rely solely on us to deliver their critical logistics business needs.

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