Africa’s Logistics Problem

Africa is a continent full of opportunity. It has rich natural resources, growing cities, busy ports, and a young working population. But businesses face one major challenge every day — poor logistics. Logistics means the process of moving goods from one place to another. In Africa, this process is slow, expensive, and often unpredictable.

High Transportation Cost

Moving goods within Africa can cost more than moving goods across continents. For example, transporting a product from Nairobi to Kampala can cost almost the same as shipping it from China to Kenya. This high cost affects everyone — farmers, shopkeepers, exporters, and consumers.

Poor Road Infrastructure

Many African roads are broken, narrow, or unsafe. When trucks travel on these roads, they move slowly and incur higher repair costs. A journey that should take one day sometimes takes three or four days. This delay increases product prices in the market.

Border Delays and Paperwork

Borders connect African countries, and every border has long lines, heavy paperwork, and slow checking systems. Truck drivers wait for hours or even days to cross these borders. These delays disrupt business operations and increase transport times.

Lack of Digital Tools

In many African countries, logistics still depends on phone calls, manual paperwork, and middlemen. There is very little use of digital systems. Because of this, shippers cannot check where their goods are, and truck owners cannot easily find the next job. There is no transparency.

Limited Trust Between Shippers and Transporters

Many companies don’t know which driver or truck owner is reliable. Many drivers do not know which company gives safe and timely payments. This lack of trust slows down business and creates risk for both sides.

Empty Trucks Returning Without Load

One of the biggest problems is that many trucks return empty after delivering goods. This means the truck owner earns money in only one direction. If trucks got loads for both sides, transport would become cheaper and more efficient.

The Origin Story of Lori Systems

Lori Systems was created because the founders saw these problems up close. They traveled across East Africa, meeting truck drivers, port workers, farmers, and business owners. They wanted to understand why logistics was so expensive and slow.

Learning from Real Truck Drivers

The founders spent time riding with drivers and listening to their problems. Drivers said they often waited for days without finding the next load. They complained about middlemen taking huge commissions. Many drivers also said they never knew when they would be paid.

These real-life issues helped the founders think of a digital solution.

Understanding Shippers’ Pain Points

Businesses that needed to move goods faced similar issues. They did not know which truck owners were trustworthy. Many shippers had to call dozens of people before finding a truck. The price varied widely because there was no standard and no system.

The Big Idea — A Digital Platform

After months of research, the founders decided to build a digital platform that connects shippers and truck owners directly. The idea was simple:

• One place to find trucks
  
• One place to find goods
  
• Transparent pricing
  
• Real-time tracking
  
• Faster payments
  
• No middleman manipulation
  

Launch and Early Success

Lori Systems launched in Kenya and quickly became popular because it solved real problems. Truck owners started earning more, and shippers saved time and money. With a growing number of users, Lori expanded into Uganda, Rwanda, Nigeria, and other African markets.

Building Technology for African Roads

Lori Systems created:

• A mobile app for drivers
  
• A dashboard for companies
  
• A load-matching system
  
• GPS tracking features
  
• Automated payment processes
  

This made logistics faster, cheaper, and more transparent. The company proved that digital solutions can fix big problems in African transport.

Series A Funding — A Big Milestone for Lori Systems

A Series A round is one of the most important funding stages for any startup. It shows that the company has a good product, a strong market, and a clear future plan. When Lori Systems reached this stage, investors from around the world took interest. The biggest surprise was the strong support from Chinese investors, who led the funding round.

Why Series A Funding Matters

For a startup, Series A funding helps in:

• Expanding to more countries
  
• Improving technology
  
• Hiring skilled team members
  
• Building more features
  
• Increasing operations
  
• Strengthening market position
  

This funding gave Lori the ability to scale faster and help more businesses across Africa.

Why Chinese Investors Became Interested

China has a long history of working in Africa, especially in roads, railways, ports, and infrastructure. Chinese companies understand logistics better than most countries because China has one of the world’s largest supply chain networks.

China’s Strategy in Africa

Chinese investors saw Lori Systems as a strong opportunity because:

• Africa’s logistics market is huge
  
• Most of the continent is still offline
  
• Digital solutions are needed
  
• Transport inefficiency is a big challenge
  
• Chinese-built infrastructure requires strong logistics tech
  

China invests in long-term projects. They want Africa’s trade routes to work efficiently, and Lori’s platform supports this goal.

Experience with Large-Scale Logistics

Chinese companies run massive logistics operations globally. Their experience helps Lori Systems grow faster. Chinese investors not only bring money but also:

• Technology knowledge
  
• Global supply chain experience
  
• Strategic partnerships
  
• Expansion support
  

Mutual Benefit for Both Sides

The partnership helps Africa and China in different ways:

For Africa:

• Lower transport cost
  
• Better digital tools
  
• More jobs
  
• Faster trade
  

For China:

• Stronger business presence
  
• Improved transport for Chinese goods
  
• Participation in Africa’s tech growth
  

How the Funding Will Be Used

Lori Systems plans to use the Series A funds for:

• Expanding to more African countries
  
• Improving real-time tracking systems
  
• Introducing better pricing tools
  
• Training more drivers
  
• Building smarter data analytics
  
• Creating partnerships with large companies
  

Market Signal — Africa’s Tech Scene Is Rising

The Series A round shows that international investors trust African startups. It proves that Africa is becoming a strong hub for technology-based solutions, especially in logistics and transport.

Future of African Logistics + Conclusion 

The future of African logistics is entering a new and exciting phase. For many years, transport across Africa has been slow, expensive, and full of delays. But with new digital platforms like Lori Systems, things are finally changing. Africa’s economy is growing, cities are expanding, and more businesses are selling products within the continent. This growth creates a strong need for faster, cheaper, and more reliable transport services. Technology is the key to solving these problems. In the coming years, more companies will use digital tools to track their vehicles, plan better routes, reduce fuel use, and match loads quickly. This will help truck owners earn more money and help businesses reduce their costs. When transport becomes efficient, food prices go down, farmers earn more, and factories can send their goods to more markets.

Africa is also seeing major infrastructure improvements. Many new roads, bridges, ports, and railway lines are being built across the continent. These developments will support smoother trade between countries. As these new routes open, logistics companies like Lori Systems will play a major role in connecting trucks and shippers. The use of technology such as GPS tracking, automated payments, digital customs systems, and data analytics will become more common. This will reduce border delays and make it easier for goods to move across countries. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will also support easier trade by reducing restrictions and allowing products to flow more freely between nations. This will increase demand for logistics services even more.

As digital tools become stronger, logistics in Africa will shift from manual work to smart, technology-driven operations. Small truck owners will have smartphones with real-time load updates. Drivers will no longer wait for hours at depots. Shippers will track their shipments live on their screens. Delays, corruption, and paperwork will reduce step by step, making the whole system more transparent. Startups, investors, and governments are now focusing on building a strong logistics network to support Africa’s economic growth. Chinese investors supporting Lori Systems is a clear sign that global powers believe in Africa’s logistics future. Their investment brings experience, long-term strategy, and international partnerships.

In conclusion, the future of African logistics looks bright. The continent is ready for a transport revolution powered by digital technology, better infrastructure, and strong partnerships. Lori Systems is one of the companies leading this transformation. By connecting shippers and truck owners on one intelligent platform, it has already proven that logistics can be faster, cheaper, and more transparent. As more investors join and more innovations come, Africa will move from slow logistics to a modern, efficient, and robust   supply chain system. This will help businesses grow, create more jobs, and make everyday life easier for millions of people. Africa’s next decade will be shaped by technology, and companies like Lori Systems are lighting the path forward.