Uber, a ride-hailing firm has launched its Courier Bakkie product offering for drivers and users of the Uber App.
As part of this offering, the Uber Package product will rebrand to Courier to better align with the growing range of transportation services made available to users by independent contractors, via the Uber App.
“South Africans love their bakkies because they are practical, versatile and make it easy to haul larger items. We are glad to grow our product offering, which has already seen significant uptake on the delivery of smaller packages like documentation or forgotten personal items,” says Mnotho Mtshali, Senior Operations Manager for Uber Middle East and Africa.
Introducing Courier Bakkie marks a significant milestone for the company as South Africa is Uber’s first global market to offer Users the ability to request the delivery of heavy items up to one tonne.
Johannesburg residents will be the first to be able to request Courier Bakkies, with Cape Town and Durban to follow soon.
The larger utility vehicles will also lend a helping hand to small-to-medium-sized businesses that have frequent delivery needs and limited resources to move assets between branches or heavier items to customers.
From car parts to building materials and more, this offering will empower more South African entrepreneurs to spend less time completing deliveries and focus on growing their businesses.
“We care deeply about supporting small businesses and Courier Bakkie is another way we are showing up for entrepreneurs who are creating essential jobs on a daily basis” stresses Mtshali.
The South Africa Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) market is experiencing significant growth, driven primarily by the e-commerce sector, which is a major contributor to both domestic and international demand. The expansion of the digital economy and the rapid increase in smartphone adoption are key factors enhancing e-commerce activities, thereby boosting the CEP market size
To ensure optimal deliveries of heavy goods, Uber has partnered with fleet partners like SkyNet Worldwide Express, one of South Africa’s largest courier companies who bring decades of logistics expertise to the Courier Bakkie service, ensuring heavy goods are delivered safely, intact, and on time.
