The Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprises (ESLSE) has installed a text message based system to notify importers of the arrival of their goods at the port.
The system will automatically send a notification text message to customers once their goods are received and captured into the ESLSE system.
This system is expected to replace the Multimodal Transport System (MTS) the ESLSE has used since February 2011, before it developed problems in March 2012 that saw the ports congested with uncollected containers.
The ESLSE was forced to revert to publishing a list of arrived goods on its official website and in the daily Addis Zemen newspaper, something which did not work efficiently.
“Still, most of our customers are not used to checking websites, and informing them through their mobile phone will definitely minimise the existing problem,” Getaneh Abat, Director of Modjo Dry Port and Terminal, told Addis Fortune newspaper.
“We are hoping that the text messages will help our customers lift their goods in a timely manner, since it is more accessible.”
Ethiopia’s system comes a few weeks after Kenya also announced plans to launch an online cargo clearance system, valued at US$22 million, by the end of the year. The Kenyan system is also aimed at reducing the clearance time at the port.
