Isitec International, a French firm specialised in intralogistics, has installed an intelligent parcel sorting solution at Tunisia Post’s new UPU-backed e-commerce logistics hub, which is due to open in 2024 to help meet the needs of the growing e-commerce sector in the country.
The new hub is part of the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Ecom@Africa project, which aims to ensure the development of e-commerce through the African postal network, giving micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) better access to local and international markets by simplifying import and export procedures.
E-commerce in Africa
The countries involved in Ecom@Africa, including Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, and South Africa, as well as Tunisia, are being supported by the UPU to develop a virtual e-commerce platform, logistics hubs and local distribution networks.
It is hoped that Ecom@Africa will help posts meet the needs of the growing e-commerce sector in Africa, which is expected to see revenues reach US$46 billion in 2025, up from US$28 billion in 2021, and the number of online shoppers hit 500 million, up from 350 million in 2022, according to consulting firm TechCabal Insights.
Intelligent hub
As part of Ecom@Africa, Tunisia Post chose Isitec International’s intelligent incoming and outgoing parcel sorting solution to equip its new international e-commerce logistics hub, located on the outskirts of Tunis–Carthage International Airport, which will be operational in January 2024.
According to Isitec, the new sorting solution will provide Tunisia Post with greater operational efficiency through swift and precise sorting. It will also help the post reduce labour costs, minimize sorting errors and reduce costs related to returns.
Isitec International’s solution will also significantly contribute to rigorous traceability, the firm noted. The equipment allows for precise tracking of parcel locations at every stage of processing within the Ecom@Africa e-commerce logistics platform.
Managing capacity
Sami Inoubli, PMO of the Ecom@Africa programme at Tunisian Post, says: “The installation of an automated parcel sorting machine aims primarily to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase sorting accuracy, and better manage capacity to cope with the exponential growth in parcel volume associated with the rise of e-commerce.”
The installation, commissioning, and real-world testing of the Isitec International solution were completed in September 2023. The collaboration between Tunisian Post and Isitec will span seven years, with two years of warranty period and five years under the maintenance contract.
