Page 16 - LUA May - June 2023 for Magzter

SPOTLIGHT

funded: Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco,
Senegal, South Africa, and Ghana.
“Africa’s innovative B2B commerce
startups are differentiating themselves
through localised payment and delivery
solutions to their customers, which are
not offered by global social platforms,” the
report cites.
Speaking about good practices in The use of data
sustainable logistics where technology analytics and
has played an important role, Benzitouni
said, “One of the examples is the use of machine learning
real-time tracking and tracing systems, can help logistics
which allows logistics companies to companies to
monitor their supply chain in real-
time and optimise routes to reduce optimise their
fuel consumption and emissions. This operations and
technology helps to promote efficient reduce their
transportation practices and reduce
the environmental impact of logistics environmental
operations. Another example is the use impact.
of blockchain technology, which can help ABDESSLAM BENZITOUNI
to increase transparency and traceability JUMIA GROUP
in the supply chain. This technology can
be used to track the movement of goods
and ensure that they are transported in deliveries, such as e-vans and e-bikes in to return, thereby avoiding unnecessary
a sustainable and ethical manner, with Kenya, Ghana or Sénégal. Furthermore, transportation of goods. This initiative
minimal environmental impact. The use we also use bicycles in some countries to helped Jumia avoid shipping 16,800
of data analytics and machine learning make deliveries. This helps to reduce our and 28,000 packages in 2020 and 2021,
can help logistics companies to optimise carbon footprint and promote sustainable respectively, equivalent to 5.2 tonnes
their operations and reduce their transportation practices. In addition and 6.6 tonnes of CO2e avoided.
environmental impact. By analysing to using electric vehicles, we started to Furthermore, Jumia has reduced fuel
data on transportation patterns, fuel promote sustainable packaging practices consumption per package shipped by 24%
consumption, and other key metrics, by reducing the amount of packaging from 138ml in 2020 to 105ml in 2021,
logistics companies can identify areas materials we use. This helps to reduce through sustainable fulfilment practices.
for improvement and implement waste while ensuring that our products Jumia has also sold 8,472 refurbished
sustainable practices that reduce their are delivered safely and securely. To phones in 2021 through its marketplace,
carbon footprint and improve their further reduce our carbon footprint, we promoting responsible consumption and
overall efficiency.” have established a network of pickup encouraging customers to select more
stations across Africa, where customers sustainable alternatives.
SUSTAINABILITY- FUTURE can collect their orders instead of Giving the perspective of an exporter
PROOFING THE VALUE CHAIN having them delivered to their homes or transporting highly perishable cargo
Sustainability is important in logistics offices. This helps to reduce the number is Raphael Kiptis, Head of Finance at
because it plays a critical role in of individual deliveries, which in turn Sian Roses in Kenya which is one of the
reducing the environmental impact reduces our transportation emissions and leading producers of fresh cut flowers
of transportation, which is a major fuel consumption.” that exports all their products to various
contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Among some other initiatives taken markets across Europe, Dubai, the UK,
By adopting sustainable practices, up by Jumia to promote sustainable Australia, and Africa.
logistics companies can reduce their logistics practices in Africa, Benzitouni With 2500 employees across four
carbon footprint and improve operational cites that in 2021, 21% of packages were farms, the firm produces 120-130 million
efficiency, which can ultimately result in picked up by customers from Jumia's stems a year in a highly competitive
cost savings and increased profitability. pickup locations, reducing the need for market and is also the largest producer of
Outlining how Jumia has implemented individual deliveries and minimising spray roses in the world.
sustainability in their operations, fuel consumption. Additionally, Jumia Kiptis told the publication, “For us to
Benzitouni shared, “One of the key has implemented a programme to reduce build sustainability, we need to reduce the
initiatives we have implemented is the reverse shipments by allowing qualifying cost of production. Cost of power in Kenya
use of electric vehicles for last-mile customers to keep certain items they wish is quite high, so last year we implemented

14 LUA MAY - JUNE 2023