NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 11- Here is what you need to know about tech firm Sendy, as explained by the Co-founder and Vice President Supply Don Okoth.
Is Sendy a technology or a transport and logistics company?
Sendy is a technology company. What we look at is that we bridge the logistic and technology and we help businesses to be able to trade and by doing so we give them a platform. For example, we have three units in the orgnaisation which includes transport, freight and supply and different players can use these platforms to connect.
How was the business during the pandemic and how is it now?
During that time, less interaction meant people had to rely on technology so that was plus because it meant people had to use either Sendy or different platforms to connect as opposed to going there physically. We were also able to see growth in different areas, the only challenge is that it has a ripple effect, people don’t have enough to spend. After COVID, people learnt that it is an easier way to do things, so customers still use the technology because they have now adapted to it.
How long has Sendy been operating in the Kenyan market? And what has been the response in the market?
We set up Sendy in 2014 and officially launched in 2015. We then set up in Uganda in 2019 and currently, we are now setting up at the Ivory Coast. At first, It was quite hard since it involved a lot of customer education. Right now being a Kenyan company and a Kenyan start up, there has been a positive response where we have created trust with our customers and people are using the system to even send high precious commodities.
How does Sendy assist with man hurdles like corruption, driver unresponsiveness?
First, Sendy works as an intersection between logistics and technology. When it comes to logistics, we have seen some massive growth in the hardware aspect where we now have the government focusing on the road, SGR and what that means is that there will be an increase so how we navigate that in the software side we have also seen a lot systems coming in such as communication systems, Cargo management and through this we tend to now automate some of the manual process that were in place even for the cargo owners. What that means is that there is less corruption and people can bid, that is better than before where the customer can even take your good to a certain point and demand an increase of delivery funds.
How do you deal with the challenge of retaining technology?
We gain our inspiration from our customers where we want to provide solutions and meet customers needs, so it is not so much of a challenge.
Where does Sendy see itself in the next five years?
We are focused on having a Pan African Business and we are keen on the impact that cuts across the transporter all the way to the customer for example in one of the units that I lead Sendy supply, we are able to connect retailers, wines and spirits with suppliers so that they can be able to get better prices which transfer back to the household. We want to transfer this across Africa. Right now, we are operating in Uganda, we have set up in Ivory Coast. Once we can open in these areas then we can be able to transfer the impact to all these other places. We currently have over 200 employees that means when we expend we can also increase employment opportunities.