Nigerian startup DeliveryBros has launched its e-courier app in Lagos and Abuja, with plans to expand to Nairobi and Accra in the coming weeks.
DeliveryBros allows users to select their pickup and drop-off locations, get a fare estimate and estimated timings for both, request a courier, and pay using e-wallet, cash or card.
Co-founder Abiodun Animashaun told Disrupt Africa the startup began life in January of last year as courier firm owning its own motorcycles, but found this model was not scalable because it was impossible to own the amount of bikes needed to cover Lagos effectively.
It subsequently sold all its vehicles and re-launched with an on-demand, Uber-style model through which it created a network of carriers across the city.
“We were able to create a programme that helped these mostly unemployed youths with funding to get their motorbikes. After training we match them with customers who have requested delivery services via our mobile app or website,” Animashaun said.
“DeliveryBros has been working for months to make moving things from one point to another as easy as tapping a button.”
The app connects users with the nearest available dispatch rider, who can any items around Lagos and Abuja. It allows for auto request, auto routing, payment and tracking, and also has a secure wallet system where regular customers or merchants can pre-pay certain amounts to get discounted deliveries and referral bonuses.
“The market is huge. We have lots of e-commerce marketplaces with thousands of sellers, and millions of SMEs selling on social media. They all have one problem: efficient last mile delivery. We saw this gap and decided to solve it with technology,” said Animashaun.
The self-funded startup, which obtained a small amount of funding from She Leads Africa, has seen strong uptake, with referrals being key to its growth. It is already planning on expanding to Accra and Nairobi.
“We have a subscription plan on the mobile app where merchants and individuals can subscribe monthly by funding their wallet. We then split the revenue with our individual carriers,” Animashaun said.
