DHL eCommerce has collaborated with Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce to offer its logistics services for free for four months to help Thai farmers amidst challenging market conditions such as oversupply and strong competition.
According to DHL eCommerce, it worked with the ministry’s Department of International Trade Promotion to set up a streamlined process for local farmers to manage their inventory and ship to domestic consumers. They will be able to use arrange deliveries and shipments using BentoWeb, a local e-commerce services provider which has been integrated with DHL eCommerce’s own customer web portal.
“We are extremely honoured to have this opportunity to use our e-commerce expertise and logistics services to make a positive impact on the farmers’ businesses and their livelihoods,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, managing director of DHL eCommerce Thailand. “As an organization operating in Thailand, providing both domestic as well as international delivery services to the local businesses, we are committed to the Thailand market. Wherever and whenever we can contribute to the local communities, we will do our utmost best to support.”
“The internet has opened up more possibilities for us farmers to do business,” said Ban Um-sang Rice Community, a farmer co-op. “We can communicate and connect with customers directly, previously impossible with more traditional methods. We don’t have to worry about organizing our deliveries too, as they are taken care of by experienced logistics specialists. By giving us more options, e-commerce makes us less affected by existing market forces and gives us the freedom to improve our sales in new ways.”
DHL eCommerce operates a 3,000m2 central distribution centre in Bangkok and a network of over 40 depots across the country. The number of depots is expected to double and the delivery fleet will be upgraded with two-wheel vehicles by 2017, according to DHL eCommerce.
