Earlier this year, we took one of our first steps towards becoming a global end-to-end logistics provider by adding digital trade corridors to the physical routes we have built across the African continent. We did this by launching DUBUY.com – a global wholesale e-commerce platform that debuted in Rwanda.  

Today, the latest addition to the suite of digital products being launched by our Logistics and Technology division, DUBUY.com is the business gateway to Africa. While we have cemented our physical trade corridors to and from Africa, DUBUY.com is now creating the digital trade corridors to match. 

DUBUY.com is an online marketplace that helps to unlock access to global markets for small and medium-sized Ethiopian enterprises, with fulfilment through our worldwide ports and logistics network. The platform also enables global companies to find and serve new trading partners in Africa, opening access to fast growing markets on the continent. 

Mahmood Al Bastaki, Chief Operating Officer, Dubai Trade World, said: 

“With over 50 nations and a population of 1.3 billion people, Africa provides a vital opportunity for us in taking DUBUY.com to the next level; the continent is fast becoming the epicentre of e-commerce prospects as it has one of the most digitally connected populations in the world with 400 million internet users, second to only China. We’re look forward to continue progressing the platform so that cargo owners and customers are able to move anything, anywhere at the click of a button.” 

Online marketplaces are a significant opportunity for economic growth in Africa, which today accounts for less than 0.5 percent of global e-commerce according to the United Nations Conference on Development and Trade. The combination of DUBUY.com, our physical logistics infrastructure and data-driven logistics solutions will solve some of the key challenges to the growth of e-commerce on the continent, including reliable fulfilment, secure financial transactions, and the movement of goods.  

We’re proud of how we’re making a difference in supporting economic development and increased prosperity in Africa through connecting African businesses to regional and international markets. Our goal through this journey is to create a one-of-a-kind logistics offering, which seamlessly connects physical and digital infrastructures and ensures that we become a leading end-to-end logistics business. This will directly and positively impact our pursuit of expanding our presence in the supply chain – and in turn, grow our customer base. 

Through a connected product roadmap of physical and digital infrastructures that are DP World-owned as well as acquired, we will serve our customers and drive new revenue opportunities.

We are in the process of building an unrivalled product and service offering that not only makes it easier for customers to manage their supply chains from start to finish, but also offers a unique integrated experience.

We are also building and enhancing existing products that will help digitalise different aspects of our vision and will be streamlining these products together to provide a complete end-to-end offering.

Examples of this include the global wholesale e-commerce platform Dubuy.com, which serves as online marketplace that is integrated with our existing infrastructure. We’re also proud of our World Logistics Passport (WLP) programme, that offers the world’s first loyalty programme for traders and freight forwarders, counting more than 10 countries as part of its programme including Brazil, India and South Africa, amongst others, with major multinational corporations including UPS and Pfizer having signed up. 

We have also launched the Digital Freight Alliance which is an online network designed to connect freight forwarders around the world, and provide them with the most effective digital tools to enhance the growth of their business. Furthermore, CARGOES Flow, our enterprise multi-vendor tracking tool for intermodal shipments, benefits large cargo owners that are working with multiple logistics vendors at any given time. 

Additionally, to provide users with real-time information on vessel, gate, and yard movements, we created CARGOES TOS+ (Zodiac), an integrated platform encompassing all IT and operational systems under one umbrella. 

Our digital change strategy is ambitious, but achievable. It is something to be proud of and will fundamentally change the way we do business at every step of the customer journey.