App technology is fast
gaining traction in South
Africa, offering the benefits
of reduced cost and
improved customer service.
According to Anton
Potgieter, founder of
Matchbox, an app launched
in August this year, there’s
been plenty of interest.
“Our key metric is the
number of transactions we
get. And since the launch
we’ve had more than
100 transactions on the
platform,” he told FTW.
“The interest
and therefore transactions
are growing every week.”
According to Potgieter
there has been a gap in
the market for an app like
Matchbox – especially
in light of increasing
exposure to digital and the
capabilities it brings.
“Matchbox is only one
of several players, both
incumbents and startups,
that brings a digital
product to the freight
industry in order to ensure
that this industry is not
left behind during what
is essentially a digital
revolution in
the work
space,” he
said. “From
our side we
are pushing
very hard.”
The idea for the app
was first conceived in
2016 and was more than a
year in the making – and
included vigorous testing.
“Matchbox is named
after its ability to
literally match boxes
(containers) with
transporters,” explained
Potgieter. “It simplifies
the current process to
find, book, track and
pay for road transport in
Africa.”
There is no charge
to download the app,
according to Potgieter.
Similar technology has
been operating in the US
and Asia for some time
where the benefits of faster
deliveries and less wasted
space have resulted in real
cost savings.
Thanks to its online
bidding platform,
transporters can increase
their loads
and expand
their
business
without
having
to return
to the
warehouse
after each
delivery.
“With
the app a
transporter
signs up
for alerts
to jobs in
their vicinity,” explained
Potgieter. “The jobs are then
auctioned to the best bidder
while in turn typically
offering shippers a lower
rate than current industry
standards.”
The app is fitted with
a transport management
system that helps with fleet
management and assigning
drivers to respond to jobs.
All the load details are sent
to the phone and truck
drivers are able to respond
much faster than when
operating in the traditional
way. The system also allows
for live tracking of each
load.
According to Potgieter,
Matchbox allows shippers
to choose their transporters
from a verified
database that
lists their ratings
from customers
as well as ongoing
performance.
“Transporters
bid on each load,
which ensures the
shipper gets the
best rate, while
the transporter
can increase
productivity.”
Potgieter said
the response to
date had been
extremely positive and they
were hoping to expand the app
to East Africa soon.
Potgieter said most of
the transactions took place
online while phone calls were
sometimes made as well.
Online payment methods are
also available.
INSERT & CAPTION
With the app a
transporter signs up for
alerts to jobs in their
vicinity — and the jobs
are then auctioned to
the best bidder.
– Anton Potgieter
