7 Tips for Logistics in Africa
Article outline:
- Integrate logistics challenges as early as possible
- Manage your time and respect others’ time
- KNOW YOUR STUFF
- Understand your costs
- Share
- Innovate
- Stop self-stereotyping
Being an entrepreneur comes with its share of challenges. Doing business in Africa is an even more demanding adventure—especially when it comes to logistics in Africa. After several years of experience and discussions with entrepreneurs, we share 7 golden tips for logistics in Africa to help you avoid unpleasant surprises!
Integrate logistics challenges as early as possible
Whether you are still designing your product or have been selling products for some time, make sure to integrate logistics constraints right from the product design stage. Do you sell oversized products, perishable goods, sensitive or high-value items, or fragile products? Are your customers located in remote or hard-to-reach areas?
Factor logistics costs into your planning to ensure product integrity all the way to the end customer. You’ll gain more—and so will your customers!
Manage your time and respect others’ time
Having customers and partners means having a duty to plan in order to honor your commitments. To do so, manage emergencies, priorities, and risks in a pragmatic way. Many tools are available—make use of them!
KNOW YOUR STUFF
Knowing your product, manufacturing processes, sales and marketing techniques, team management—yes, absolutely. BUT it is essential to seek help from experts for what you do not master, such as regulations specific to a product or a country.
Understand your costs
Here, we are talking about real logistics costs. Not just transportation, warehousing, and distribution, but also returns, disputes, various taxes, and insurance. Forgetting these costs will directly impact your profit margin!
Share
“Alone we go faster, together we go further!”
Sharing experiences is undoubtedly a powerful accelerator of economic growth. It can take the form of knowledge exchange with partners or even pooling resources with competitors. Coopetition has proven its value among the most successful companies—so why not try it now?
Innovate
Try to move away from traditional models. Trade in Africa is unique and requires unique solutions. Stay alert to new technologies and information systems, but above all, think outside the box. Many companies within the network have saved significant time and money thanks to innovative logistics solutions such as Logistiqa, our comprehensive management platform—you can request a free trial right now.
Stop self-stereotyping
Have you ever heard phrases like “we’re late—it’s normal in Africa” or “bribes are cultural”? There is a tendency to judge a service provider or competitor based on origin or culture rather than facts. We all benefit from being more respectful toward ourselves and others—through our language and by staying factual.
For more content, visit our blog and our YouTube channel. Do you have questions about logistics in Africa or a topic you’d like to explore further?
Contact us by email:
info@logistiqa.co
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