INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
UNITRANS
DRIVES INNOVATION TO MEET AFRICA’ S EVOLVING LOGISTICS NEEDS
Unitrans is reinforcing its role as a reliable and innovative supply chain services partner, adapting to the swift evolution of Africa’ s logistics industry
“ The African logistics landscape is changing rapidly,” says Edwin Hewitt, CEO of Unitrans,“ and companies like ours must change with it. There’ s no onesize-fits-all approach anymore. Success lies in tailored solutions, flexibility, and relentless innovation rooted in real-time data, technology, and collaboration.”
A CENTURY OF EXPERIENCE, A FUTURE OF AGILITY Unitrans boasts a century of experience, operating in 10 African countries, making it uniquely capable of tackling the continent’ s intricate logistics demands. Annually, Unitrans facilitates the transport of 4.4 billion liters of fuel and chemicals, manages 100,000 hectares of sugarcane, and deploys a fleet of 4,000 vehicles traversing 300 million kilometers. Furthermore, its commuter services cater to over 80 million passengers each year.
Hewitt emphasizes the importance of adaptability in their business, stating,“ We don’ t just react to change, we plan for it.” Their teams leverage industry knowledge and advanced technologies like AI, telematics, and smart analytics to boost supply chain performance.
African markets are uniquely challenged by issues such as poor infrastructure, volatile demand, geo-political uncertainty, and extreme weather. However, Unitrans views these hurdles as opportunities for innovation. The company offers tailored solutions, including drone technology for agriculture and advanced telematics for transport, all designed to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
THE POWER OF COLLABORATION AND INTEGRATED PARTNERSHIPS Collaboration is a key driver of Unitrans’ s success, as strong, strategic partnerships are essential for navigating this space. Hewitt emphasizes that collaboration, whether with customers to forecast demand or integrating live data across the supply chain, is not optional. This commitment is reflected in Unitrans’ s approach to integrated partnerships where risk, work, and reward are shared. Such alignment fosters agile, responsive operations and minimizes supply chain friction.
Technology, with significant investment in advanced systems and tools, also forms a cornerstone of Unitrans’ s strategy.
Hewitt emphasizes that real value from technology adoption stems from its full integration into daily operations.“ Technology only delivers results when it’ s embedded into daily operations. Every system we use must improve productivity, reduce risk and enhance safety. That’ s where true transformation happens,” he states.
Looking ahead, the company is committed to developing resilient, future-ready logistics networks that will drive African growth. Hewitt concludes,“ Strong relationships with suppliers, logistics providers and technology partners will be critical. By working together and leveraging the right tools, we can build supply chains that are robust, agile, sustainable and ready for whatever comes next.”
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aBr WORDS IN ACTION 16 JULY 2025