These days every industry is going digital and optimising their operations. This digital wave has spread across even traditional industries like logistics. Logistics is considered by many to be one of the most consistent industries in South Africa and there is great promise in the industry. One person who is leading logistics into the new age is Godiragetse Mogajane, founder of Delivery Ka Speed.
In this installment of SME Founder Focus, we profile Godiragetse Mogajane. Mogajane is an experienced entrepreneur who started his journey in the e-learning industry. He has skills in customer service, strategic planning and public speaking. Mogajane attended the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) where he studied Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in business and commerce.
Driving Efficiency
“I started Delivery Ka Speed to transform the quality of life in townships by providing convenience to consumers and employment to the youth. The goal has always been to ensure township communities have access to delivery services,” he says. Mogojane also shares that he has always been passionate about empowering the youth.
Mogojane started his company out of the need for food late in the evening. Living in Hammanskraal, he realised that none of the usual delivery apps worked around his area. From there, he made it his mission to bring those services to the townships and create jobs for many locals too.
“When we started this company, we realised that townships are far from the main economic hubs. So it makes it difficult for other logistics companies and customers are overcharged for their deliveries,” Mogojane explained. “That’s why we prioritise township deliveries”.
The name ‘Delivery Ka Speed’ is Sepitori for ‘fast delivery’ and that describes how Mogojane wanted his service to be. The company specialises in low-cost deliveries on behalf of large enterprises as well as food merchants. Beyond aggregating deliveries from other courier companies, the company boasts multiple collection points such as Internet cafes, spaza shops and other small businesses within the townships
This makes it easier for customers to collect parcels. Convenience is also why retailers like Spar and major banks have chosen to partner with Delivery Ka Speed within the townships.
Logistics Meets Technology
In South Africa, only 6% of shopping is done online. This causes quite a hurdle for many businesses, but not Delivery Ka Speed. Even with his township-first approach, Mogojane knew that he had to leverage technology to keep up with demand and growth.
Seeing that the business started as an app for food delivery, there was a need to expand the technology too by adding other features and elements like a payment gateways. Luckily, Delivery Ka Speed was already tech-ready.
With these additional features and safety measures, Mogojane knew that his customers would have better trust in his online business and feel more comfortable using it. He emphasises that businesses looking to go online and sell online need to put security measures to protect the business and his customers.
“The world is changing and going digital which is great, but it can leave businesses quite vulnerable. Threats and crime are no longer something that only happens physically but also online. I think technologies like cyber security can help everyone stay safe online,” Mogojane says .
When it comes to physical safety, this founder has a solution too. To defy the crime that typically comes with delivering in townships, Mogojane says he decided to hire locals. “This is an added advantage especially in the township. Locals can find the houses easily and because they are local, criminals do not target them – even if they are delivering late at night”.
Fast Towards the Future
With his company taking off so fast, Mogojane has little to no time to think about it. He says that looking into the future, the plan is to take Delivery Ka Speed into other townships outside Johannesburg. He says that deliveries in other provinces is the next goal and soon maybe the rest of the continent.
“We obviously have big ambitions, and the business is growing well. We want to take our services into the rest of the country and ensure that not only our customers in townships get their packages and deliveries but also that we become a leader in township deliveries,” he smiles.
Mogojane says his advice to new entrepreneurs is to embrace the challenges that come with running a business and to always be ready to adapt for growth. “Be flexible within business. Things change and a lot of challenges will come but you need to stay firmly focused on your objectives and ultimate goals.”
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