Modern tracking systems power reliability in Kenya’s fast-growing courier market.

With Kenya’s e-commerce industry booming, courier firms are racing to deliver faster, safer and more transparently than ever. This week, headlines were dominated by consumer complaints over delayed or misplaced parcels, prompting calls for stricter delivery tracking systems across the sector.

GS1 standards can provide the missing link. By assigning each parcel a Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), couriers can trace every package from dispatch to delivery. Each warehouse, drop-off station and customer destination can also be uniquely identified using Global Location Numbers (GLNs). When combined, these identifiers form a full traceability chain ensuring that no package goes unaccounted for.

   

Companies like Sendy and Fargo Courier are already experimenting with digital labels and 2D barcodes that connect to real-time dashboards. This allows customers to scan, track and verify parcel details instantly. It is the kind of transparency that not only improves service reliability but also builds brand loyalty in Kenya’s competitive logistics market.

By embedding GS1 standards into digital logistics systems, courier companies can turn traceability from a pain point into a selling point, giving customers confidence that their parcels are always visible, accountable and secure.