Saudi Arabia-based technology startup focussing on door-to-door delivery services, WeDeliver has launched the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s first micro-fulfillment hubs.
The strategically located mini-warehouses are dark stores for quick commerce that came into operation this month in Riyadh and enable eCommerce owners to offer a lesser delivery time to their customers.
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, eCommerce and online shopping have surged drastically. According to Statista, online retail revenue is projected to grow to $5.3 trillion in 2022. But supply chain issues are in the spotlight more than ever before.
WeDeliver is now planning to launch 14 hubs in Riyadh by the end of the first quarter in 2022, and another 88 hubs in the MENA region by the end of next year. These hubs are distributed in a way to make sure there is ample coverage in high-demand areas.
The ability to store stock in these mini-warehouses, located close to customers, rather than in larger storehouses on the outskirts of city centers will help reduce the shipping zones and costs associated with online orders. The orders will be processed from the closest hubs more quickly and more affordably.
“Speed of delivery is the greatest competitive edge for sellers. Our micro-hubs will help businesses join the fast-growing eCommerce market by giving sellers the opportunity to be minutes away from their customers and faster than anytime before,” said Mr. Ahmad Ramahi, CEO and Co-founder of WeDeliver.
Mohammad Abu Kwaik CTO & Co-Founder WeDeliver
“WeDeliver is developing AI-powered technology that will predict high demand products based on data and shelf-lifetime, such as most popular or seasonal items, and this will allow us to manage the inventory and store the products in nearest hubs to customers even before they place their online orders.”
WeDeliver offers customized packaging for sellers by using branded boxes and special wrapping during order processing. The company also offers a hassle-free return service that allows customers to generate return shipping labels and track returns while processing sellers’ products back into their available inventory as efficiently as possible.
