Agility Logistics to invest $100 million in digital logistics platform Shipa.com

Kuwait-based Agility Logistics is committing to the digitalization of its services in the form of a $100 million investment toward the expansion of “Shipa.com” – an online platform  that integrates Agility’s global network, and infrastructure.

The new investment will add service lines to Shipa Freight, which Agility launched  in April to provide customers with options to book, quote, pay and track ocean shipments online. Shipa will become a three-pronged service comprised of Shipa Ecommerce, Shipa Delivery, and Shipa Freight.

The e-commerce module will integrate freight, fulfillment, delivery and returns services for shipper customers based in the U.S., the E.U. and Asia for delivery to the Arabian Gulf region “with additional reach into the E.U. and Africa planned for the near future.” However, Toby Edwards, CEO of Shipa Freight, told Air Cargo World there is “no firm timeline” as of yet. The delivery module, meanwhile, will offer businesses and consumers same-day, next-day and cross-border delivery across the Arabian gulf.

“Logistics is the backbone of commerce. But it’s complex, and that complexity is disproportionately difficult for small businesses to navigate,” said chairwoman at Agility, Henadi Al-Saleh said. “Small businesses often lack access to the logistics resources, tools and solutions that larger businesses have.”

The company said it interviewed 800 small and medium-sized businesses around the world and found that “78 percent wanted to see their logistics move online,” Al-Saleh said. “Shipa helps close that gap, empowering small businesses to take advantage of the opportunities being created by the global digital economy.”