Freight Shipping Company OMOFOX and Its Logistics Philosophy
Georgian startup OMOFOX is a 2 months old business that won GEL 100 000 co-financing grant program and was named among 20 winners.
OMOFOX is a global digital freight shipping B2B (Business to Business) platform that acts as an intermediary between different business sectors and shipping companies.
''The beginning of this project is quite interesting. A few years ago, I was leading another startup (in stock management). I was researching how much the customers needed the service I was going to offer and in the process, I found myself in an interview with Vakho Romanov, the logistics manager of Citadel. Our conversation lasted for about 3-4 hours and I remember then I thought it would be great to do business with Vakho.
A few years later, I heard that he left "Citadel" and I reached out to him soon after. Although starting a startup, was not in my plans for another year or twi, we agreed at the meeting that the market needed something new in terms of transportation and logistics. Kakhaber Kochiashvili, who left "Cargon", joined us in a very timely manner, and so we gathered around one idea experienced people in terms of cargo transportation,''-says Makho Kituashvili at Marketer.
He also describes their methodology in terms of building a team:
We started operating in 2020 and aim to do everything from the management of the team - to the destination of the cargo - with the right approach.
In the case of a team, we mean the agile methodology for the proper management. So far, we are 8 people, in a few days, about the same number will be added to us. We also had interviews with the already selected candidates with all the members of the team. We attach great importance to who will be the people at the initial stage who will create OMOFOX human capital and corporate culture.
When it comes to customer relations, we have built a management philosophy on lean management, the main purpose of which is to take care of the satisfaction of our audience: what do customers want? What value should we create? - If we answer these questions, then we realize in what direction it is better to continue working.
With active communication with customers, we want to offer, step by step, the tools that will create a better experience and help them understand what modern services in the field of cargo transportation are.
M: As for the startup activities, more precisely, what role does OMOFOX play in the cargo transportation process?
We are freight forwarders and provide cargo expedition. We do not own transport - mobile property, that is, our activity is to organize cargo and we try to make this process as simple and comfortable as possible with technological solutions.
We have partners in different countries: air, sea, land or rail, and it is this experience that prepares us to take on the role of mediator between different businesses and shipping companies.
M: What are the main problems you are going to solve on behalf of OMOFOX?
Timely and correct exchange of information is crucial in the process of shipment of goods in order for the customer to be satisfied and not to be harmed by other parties involved.
Today, consumers are provided with various information about this process in fragments, through different channels, be it: e-mail, WhatsApp, phone call, etc. Which significantly hinders the processing of data, timely transfer of funds, the ability to respond to the problem.
The solution we offer to our customers looks like this: one platform where anyone can understand the shipping cost, in case of acceptable cost, book a shipment, track the shipping process and connect with the parties involved through a single platform.
At present, as soon as you try to understand the fee, ie at the initial stage, the customer is faced with a kind of challenge, because, say, if he is interested in what shipping from Shanghai to Tbilisi will cost, he will have to wait 18 hours.
We want to reduce this time to 6-7 hours and create instant pricing. In short, we have the correction for maximum process automation.
M: What phase are you in now and what are your plans for entering the international market?
We are currently in the process of development. We should use the obtained grant to gradually improve our platform and develop the product. And then, slowly, enter the neighboring countries: Azerbaijan and Armenia! Initially where the market is free.
The article is translated from Marketer.ge