BY DANIEL ALEMAYEHU
Currently, technology becomes one of the basic tools to modernize people’s way of life in the day to day base.
As globalization advances new culture coupled with advanced communication the world is changing in various aspects. Trade, technology and knowledge play pivotal role in this regard. International organization such as the UN, none governmental institutions, investment flow, migration and education create more conducive environment for human interaction and acculturation. It is common to see companies based in different places trying their level best to reach customers’ by supplying their products and services to their door steps with cutting age technology. The government has introduced ten years’ perspective economic growth plan which aspires digitizing the economy to do business in a cost effective manner.
Among the various objectives of the plan, achieving maximum success in developing digital capacity coupled with promoting innovation and usage of technologies can be mentioned.
Entrepreneurs and companies have been exerting their effort to be the first in creating better platforms to the people who have acquainted with the technology. There are sectors that need modern technologies to upgrade their services. The banking sector might be an example in this part.
Not only the banking sector but also other sectors need better platforms so that making life easy to the people can be possible. In relation to this point, the government has made numerous decisions to create a favorable condition to both entrepreneurs and customers. Hereof, Ethio-telecom has created and introduced plenty platforms to its customers and reached with easy access.
Apart from the government services, the private sectors have made tangible and promising success in service provision. Many private owned companies have provided technology- based services so that people access their services on their smartphones.
Recently, technology based platform has been introduced by the company, ‘MassDel’. It is a tech company that aims to deliver freight services. It has an application that connects people who need freight services. It was learnt that apart from the application, the company also incorporates its own website and call center to make the service easily accessible.
The technology cost around 30 million birr. Local software developers coupled with international software professionals are working together in this particular company. The application offers services in Amharic and English languages. In the coming time, the company will exert its efforts aggressively on adding more languages.
On the opening ceremony of Mass Del Innovation and Technology State Minister, Huriya Ali stated that MassDel freight technology can contribute tremendous advantage in relation to make the service easy and accessible. According to the State Minister, technology has the potential to pave ways for new job opportunities and assist small scale jobs to be formal in a sustainable manner.
This also helps to create a chance to get continuous earnings.
In order to make the country profitable from the technology sector, as to the state minister, the government has been working on creating better environment to private sectors and development partners.
One of the activities that the government has done is forming and implementing strategy dubbed “Digital Ethiopia 2025”. There are activities that are designed to implement under the aforementioned strategies. One of the key activities is building digital economy infrastructures. This also includes the developing digital platforms, the state minister disclosed.
The state minister has also mentioned government’s efforts in accordance with building e-commerce related technologies by forming legal frameworks and related systems. Some of the best actions taken by the government are developing an e-transaction proclamation in order to certify e-commerce and related works. Not only that, the government has introduced proclamations on digital payment and private data protection, directives related to logistics.
As to the state minister, in 2025, it is estimated that the overall transactions using e-commerce worldwide will be 7.3 trillion USD. This figure will incorporate 24 percent of the world retail sale. With large number of population and graduate citizens, Ethiopia has the potential to be a destination for digital investment technologies.
Due to the given emphasis for digital development, according to the state minister, the sector becomes a center for a number of job opportunities. However, so as to get tangible results, private sectors need to use those technologies and conduct their transaction activities such as import and export trade. The government also plays its part on supporting the private sector.
“From the pillar platforms of digital economy, e-commerce platforms take the frontlines. Technology- based message and freight services play bold part in e-commerce,” said Huriya. Professionals who are participating in Mass Del Technology should use the platform effectively and in a professional manner so that they can take their part in the nation’s digital transformation.
Mass Del CEO, Tewabe Yilak on his part, the technology is developed in collaboration with local and international developers and took longer period of time. It also incorporates numerous choices.
As to the CEO, the company is ruled by professionals so that the application is equipped with unique services that people could not find in other African countries. For instance, by using the application customers can involve in auctions to compare prices and get the service.
Tewabe further explained that the application has online tracking system which enables customers to track the vehicle anywhere. Besides, to avoid any inconvenience in case the driver losses or switch off its mobile phone, the company is working on installing GPS devices on every vehicles.
The technology has other preferences like call center (7691) to get the service. It also informs drivers or service givers by identifying which freight is best regarding generating better income, said the CEO.
Moreover, Tewabe noted that MassDel technology has planned to provide services with 30- 40 percent lesser price than the existed price. This path doesn’t have any negative result on drivers or owners. It will assist service providers to create more jobs so that they can generate more incomes.
In order to use the technology, as to the CEO, over one thousand vehicles have been registered.In the coming two years, the company plans to register more than30 thousand vehicles. When the company starts operating in its full capacity, it will create jobs for more than 10 thousand citizens. The service is expected to generate 10 million birr transaction in the coming year.
The freight market is a kind of business that can accommodate many service providers. “We encourage other competitive companies,” Tewabe added. Likewise, the CEO further disclosed that the company has a plan to make every truck moves with a freight.As the nation pays expensive price to import fuel, this will help service providers use their fuel effectively. This definitely assists drivers’ productivity. The overall result of this job has its own impact on the economy of the country.
The service is provided in Addis Ababa and neighboring towns, Tewabe said, most demands are coming from the outskirts of the city. To resume the service in other parts of the country, researches have been conducted in collaboration with partners. The company has a plan to reach out to other African countries too.
The Ethiopian Herald 4 September 2022
