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Implementing Effective Innovation Challenges: Three Lessons from the Last Mile Distribution Sector
Last mile distributors (LMDs) are key to bringing life-changing products to hard-to-reach consumers, and innovation is essential to their work. But as Emma Colenbrander and Charlotte Taylor at the Global Distributors Collective and Gerwin Jansen at Bopinc explain, these innovations are often not replicated, leading LMDs to spend time and resources reinventing the wheel. They explore how innovation challenges can foster greater replicability and inclusivity, and share three key insights for LMDs and other businesses and organizations working to support innovation at the last mile.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
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UPS Partners With Jumia to Expand Delivery Network in Africa
Global logistics and package delivery company UPS will leverage Jumia’s network across Africa to grow its reach in the continent.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Marketing Nutritious Food Products at the Last 100 Meters: A New Report Explores the Impact of Direct Sales Forces
Nearly 800 million people globally are undernourished, and over 2 billion lack year-round access to adequate food. Many companies have attempted to address this issue by marketing affordable, nutritious food products in developing countries. But as Lucie Klarsfeld McGrath and Louise Berthault at Hystra point out, few of these companies focus on ensuring that their nutritious products are consumed consistently in sufficient quantities to produce positive health impacts. They share new research on how companies can leverage direct sales forces to bring low-income customers consistent access to nutritious foods.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Debunking Myths on the Impact and Income of Women Sales Forces: New Data Reveals Ways to Maximize Their Potential
The use of female sales agents to sell health-related products is sometimes seen as a panacea that can boost both healthcare access and women’s income empowerment. But little research has been done to prove or disprove these beliefs. Lucie Klarsfeld McGrath and Louise Berthault at Hystra discuss a new report analyzing data from 21 organizations that rely principally on women direct sales forces to sell health-related products. Their analysis sheds light on the role and impact that women sales forces can have, and suggests ways to maximize their impact.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Health Care
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How Cross-Industry Collaboration Can Spur the Digitalisation of the Last-Mile Distribution Sector
Last-mile distributors play a critical role in bringing energy and other life-changing products and services to customers in sub-Saharan Africa, and digitalisation is key to enabling these companies to operate at scale. But as Javier Baranda Alonso at Energy 4 Impact explains, both distributors and digital service providers often struggle to understand and service each other’s needs. He shares insights from a research report that highlights ways to accelerate the digitalisation of last-mile distribution by building bridges between the two sectors.
- Categories
- Energy, Entrepreneurship, Technology
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Press Release: Essmart and One Acre Fund Partner to Expand Farmer Services
After successfully piloting farmer services in Bihar, India, we’re now partnering with Essmart, a last-mile distribution company, to increase access to agricultural products for rural farmers in Northern India.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- agriculture, distribution, farming, scale, smallholder
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From People to Packages: How a Nigerian Ride-Hailing Business Weathered the Pandemic by Shifting to Last-Mile Delivery
The effects of COVID-19 have impacted business around the world, and consumer-focused sectors in Africa have faced particular challenges. As Nikhil Goel at Gokada explains, the crisis has exposed the urgent need for digital-first approaches to work, shopping and other aspects of daily life – and opened new opportunities for nimble enterprises that can tap into this growing demand. He explores how Gokada has successfully navigated the pandemic by shifting its business model from ride-sharing to last-mile delivery.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
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Embracing Digital Solutions in Last Mile Distribution: Six Steps for Introducing New Tools to Sales Agents
COVID-19 has accelerated the shift towards greater digitalization that was already well underway in the last mile distribution sector. According to Gerwin Jansen and Yvonne Achieng at Bopinc, more digital services are coming onto the market to meet this demand – but regardless of the benefits of these tools, if sales agents don’t embrace them the business impacts will not be realized. They explore how last mile distributors can successfully embed digital solutions in their sales teams, presenting a six-step approach to rolling out new digital services to agents.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
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