Logistics start-up Tripplo named SA’s most innovative company for 2021

In 2018, Standard Bank entered a five-year strategic partnership with tech start-up accelerator FFA to develop home-grown African start-ups

11 June 2021 - 15:00
Sponsored
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Tripplo has built a platform that incorporates multiple application programme interface integrations across Standard Bank’s financial services products.
Tripplo has built a platform that incorporates multiple application programme interface integrations across Standard Bank’s financial services products.
Image: Supplied/Standard Bank

Tripplo, a Founders Factory Africa (FFA) venture, has been named by Fast Company SA as the country’s most innovative company for 2021. The business, which is only in its third year of existence, went up against well-known brands that were also nominated and made it to the list of top 25 most innovative for 2021.

Since 2008, Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies has been the definitive source for recognising the organisations transforming industries and shaping societies. 

In 2018, Standard Bank entered a five-year strategic partnership with tech start-up accelerator FFA to develop home-grown African start-ups. Tripplo was borne out of the incubator programme in 2019 to create a new standard for African road freight logistics by reimagining the movement of cargo in a safe and efficient manner. 

Intra-Africa trade remains low in comparison to its global counterparts due to poor transport infrastructure and the considerable amount of time and costs to move across borders, despite the African Free Trade Continental Area.

In recognition of the challenges facing the logistics sector, Standard Bank and FFA provided the support to develop the Tripplo concept into a business. Now, Tripplo provides a digital logistics platform that facilitates the movement of road freight cargo across the SA development community by optimising and automating operations for small transporters.

“As one of the first businesses to be developed out of our partnership with FFA, which started simply as a one-pager concept, we could not be more pleased with Tripplo’s recent recognition by Fast Company,” says Derick de Vries, head fleet management, at Standard Bank. “This young business has grown in the pandemic environment, which, in the initial stages, weighed heavily on the transport and logistics sector, and proved that its capabilities are on par with the best and biggest in the country.”

When SA entered a nationwide lockdown in March last year, Tripplo’s operations were reduced to the bare minimum. “The business was forced to pivot during this time, and Standard Bank collaborated with Tripplo to provide expertise and knowledge by enabling access to stakeholders internally. Further, several product integrations were secured across Standard Bank which are now offered through the Tripplo platform.”

Tripplo has built a platform that incorporates multiple application programme interface integrations across Standard Bank’s financial services products. This includes FX eMarket Trader, Instant Money, Goods in Transit through Standard Bank insurance and Telematics Device Referral with Standard Bank fleet. 

Tripplo’s robust architecture allows other complementary businesses to easily integrate into and offer its solutions to customers on the platform. This is in line with Standard Bank’s broader strategy of becoming a platform organisation.

Says Tripplo CEO Victor Chaitezvi: “This recognition could not have been achieved without the support of Standard Bank, which has enabled the growth of our business by positioning us as partners. We are excited about how our technology innovation in the logistics sphere will create impact on the African continent.”

Tripplo plans to use its recent fundraising from Digital Africa Ventures, a SA-based venture capital firm, to increase its market share; focus on expansion in the Southern African Development Community; expand customer value proposition and services; and prepare for a Series A fund raise.

This article was paid for by Standard Bank.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now