Denis Opudo
Bwala Africa Group is a logistic marketplace found in Kenya. Users can use the platform to hire trucks, cars and delivery vans. People can as well get service and maintenance and sources of repairs via the group. Customers are connected to trusted mechanics with genuine spare part dealers. All this takes place at the comfort of their offices and homes. The group has delivery and tour vans, trucks, and minibusses.
The firm wants to relieve cooperative firms from the pain of fleet management. Individuals and SMEs are also relieved making them focus on their main business. The group will help mechanics grow their client portfolio and reach more customers. Many times you can need a mechanic, but you might find them busy. Good mechanics are there, but the problem is how to find them. The platform vets and let the users rate the mechanics.
Their main focus includes leasing vehicles, heavy duty, and light cargo haulage. They also do FMCG distribution, fleet management and vehicle maintenance and repairs. Bwala also deals with insurance covers and claims. They also have a segment for genuine auto part dealers. The firm works with verified garages to provide users with world-class vehicle repairs. Service and maintenance are also done by qualified personnel. The group is now located in Nairobi Kenya. The company is looking forward to expanding into many cities and urban centers in Kenya in 2018. After that, the group will expand across East Africa before pitching tents into Asia.
In Asia, the company will start with Philippines and India. After that, they will get to other countries. This is because the two have similarities with African countries. The group targets the rising number of car ownership and the middle-class population. The car owners only take a photo of their car, sign up for an account then list them for hire. National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) portal do the vehicle verification. It then makes it available on its site for hire. A client only browses the site, searches for the vehicle type they then go ahead and pay. Bwala holds the money to assure satisfaction by all the parties before realizing it.
Users need to pay a commission of 20% to 30% commission. The commission is for leasing or hires vehicles. It’s also charged with buying genuine spare parts or gets mechanics. The company handles vehicle servicing, renewal of lease contracts or insurance. During piloting the company listed 50 vehicles on their platform. It currently targets over one million vehicles in Kenya daily that needs service and maintenance. The company is under the ownership of six individuals who fund their activities.
The firm is good for fleet companies like Chandaria Industries. Chandaria owns and runs a fleet of more than 150trucks and many vehicles. Logistics is an important factor when it comes to fleet management. The Saccos and Matatu owners are also covered by the firm.
