Jumia is introducing the use of post offices for deliveries of goods purchased from the ecommerce business’s site in Kenya. The company has just renewed its partnership with Postal Corporation of Kenya (Posta) in a move to increase its footprint across the country. The deal will enable Jumia customers to pick their orders from about 625 post offices countrywide.
“We continue to see increased demand from, surprisingly, even as far as Lokichogio in Turkana. Our expanded pick-up station network with Posta will enhance customer confidence and the adoption of e-commerce countrywide,” Jumia Kenya Managing Director Sam Chappatte said.
A New Life For Posta
- Posta, which has seen some of its business rendered untenable by the advent of the Internet, has been diversifying into growth areas including courier services.
- Besides Nairobi, Jumia also operates in Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu and Kisii, although they say orders come from across the country.
Jumia Among Ecommerce Companies Struggling To Achieve Last Mile Delivery
Mr Chappatte noted that the post office is at the core of last mile delivery, a concept that has proved challenging to retailers and institutions with customers spread across the region.
A similar partnership was started and folded in 2015 due to lack of capacity around the country. Four years later, the two firms believe there are significant changes which have happened to warrant a re-union.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world