By Emma Okonji
In a bid to meet its growing logistics needs and strategically structure its capacity to lead in the e-commerce sector, the management of Yudala, pioneer composite e-commerce outfit, has invested in a trio of 220,660 square feet warehouse space located within the regional hubs of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Construction work is also expected to commence soon on similar structures in Owerri, Kano and Uyo.
The initiative was disclosed by Head of Operations, Yudala, Ejovi Ekakitie.
The warehouses, which will significantly boost Yudala’s inventory-taking capacity, are individually the largest warehouse structures in Africa, eclipsing the 120,000 square feet structure recently announced as the continent’s largest by a fellow e-commerce player.
“These warehouses will be fully automated with warehouse Management systems to create efficient and accurate inventory management to meet our commitment of same day delivery. We are preparing for the future explosion in the sector as our mandate is very clear – to lead,” Ekakitie said.
“Since our entry into the market late last year, we have re-defined the retail space with our landmark composite retail strategy – the first in Africa – which has shown that Nigeria indeed has a lot to offer the continent and the world at large in terms of innovation. Through our wide variety of delightful promotions and product offerings, many of which we are still unveiling, we have generated huge momentum and enjoyed massive patronage which has overwhelmed our warehousing capabilities.”
According to him, “It has, therefore, become imperative for us to expand our capacity especially in this area to enable us meet up with our logistics expectations in the current year which is a pivotal one for all of us at Yudala.”
Throwing more light on the massive structures which will service the network of Experience Stores in the various regions of their locations, Ekakitie noted that the warehouses will further equip the company to take huge inventory while scaling up its operational capacities.
“The warehouses are 220,660 square feet automated structures which will be fitted with state-of-the-art Warehouse Management systems and ancillary IT packages which will provide on-site storage and also go a long way in streamlining our logistics and delivery processes while reducing human error to the barest minimum.
“Our over-riding ambition is to ensure that our esteemed customers enjoy guaranteed same day delivery wherever they may be in Nigeria and these warehouses will certainly play a big role in helping us achieve this. We pioneered same day delivery on a nationwide scale earlier in March with the special Easter edition of Yu-jara and with these warehouses, even Nigerians in the hinterlands will enjoy this convenience,” Ekakitie added.
Launched late last year with great panache and marketing blitz, Yudala took the African continent by storm with its bold entry and has successfully expanded the nation’s e-commerce and offline retail space with several innovative strategies including the first ever drone delivery in Africa, Neighbour to Neighbour Mega Deals, Monthly Mid-Day Madness and Yu-jara – Nigeria’s biggest festive season’s sales, and Yudala Mobile Monday among others. Yudala prides itself for genuine products and for being the fastest pay-on-delivery composite e-commerce company in the country.
