Send Me: Building E-commerce Logistics in Sierra Leone

Send Me: Building E-commerce Logistics in Sierra Leone

Send Me: Building E-commerce Logistics in Sierra Leone

The e-commerce and food delivery sectors in Sierra Leone are currently hindered by significant operational challenges. A primary obstacle is the lack of reliable and timely delivery services, which hinders the growth of online businesses and frustrates consumers. Moreover, the absence of a centralised platform for restaurants creates inefficiencies for both customers and restaurant owners, limiting consumer choice and hindering business growth.

Seeking to provide a solution to the above challenges, Send Me emerged as a delivery service that not only delivers food, but also other essential items like documents and clothing. In mid-2020, Send Me launched its e-commerce website, (www.sendmesl.com), only to face a lack of market readiness and inadequate delivery services, leading to its initial failure. Subsequently, after encountering significant financial loss from selling a defective product in December 2020, the future of Send Me appeared uncertain, with a temporary closure.

However, in January 2021, amidst personal and entrepreneurial challenges, the founder embarked on a journey of reinvention and resilience. This period of examination  and planning led to the relaunch of Send Me as a delivery service in March 2022, marking a new chapter in the company's Plight.

Navigating initial obstacles, Send Me steadily expanded its operations, transitioning from one bike to four by the end of 2022. Securing a $40,000 grant in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided a crucial boost, enabling further development and acquisitions. By 2023, Send Me had nine bikes and completed over 4,000 deliveries, signalling a remarkable turnaround.

Recognizing the need for continuous innovation, Send Me embarked on developing and expanding its delivery fleet by partnering  with Christex Foundation. Christex Foundation is a self-funded non-profit organisation geared towards spearheading technological innovation in Sierra Leone through blockchain. The Collaboration with Christex Foundation  provided not only financial support but also technical expertise, propelling Send Me towards efficiency and growth.  Now, Send Me is completing 2000 deliveries a month, and is further driven towards having an E-Commerce app.  

Why Send Me?

Sierra Leone faced obstacles in establishing reliable and efficient delivery services for the growing e-commerce sector.  These challenges include, lack of a reliable and prompt delivery service hindering e-commerce growth in Sierra Leone, and absence of a centralised platform for customers to browse and order food from various restaurants.

Send Me addresses these critical pain points by offering a comprehensive solution. Send Me's strategic interventions included the establishment of a dedicated delivery fleet, a user-friendly ride-hailing delivery app, and an innovative e-commerce platform. Our dedicated delivery fleet provides efficient and timely delivery services for online businesses. Additionally, our ride-hailing delivery app connects customers with available riders for swift and convenient deliveries. To enhance the customer experience further, Send Me has developed an e-commerce app that aggregates various restaurants and products, enabling customers to easily browse, select, and order from multiple vendors in a centralised location.These measures effectively addressed the pain points of inadequate delivery services and the absence of a centralised ordering platform in Sierra Leone.

Here's why Send Me stands out:

  • Reliable and Efficient Deliveries: Send Me's dedicated bike fleet ensures swift and dependable delivery services, a crucial factor in customer satisfaction and business growth. This is a service that was previously lacking in the Sierra Leonean market.

  • Convenient Ordering Platform: The company's e-commerce website centralises the ordering process for various restaurants and products, saving customers time and effort by providing customers with a one-stop shop for their needs.

  • Boost for Local Businesses: By providing a platform for restaurants and other businesses, Send Me helps them expand their reach which further helps to expand their  customer base and increase sales. 

  • Improved Customer Experience: Send Me's combined delivery and ordering services makes ordering and receiving products or meals a seamless process for customers. This creates a seamless and satisfying online shopping journey for customers.

  • Economic Growth: Send Me's contributions to the efficient functioning of the e-commerce sector stimulate economic growth and job creation in Sierra Leone.

    Send Me is a  solution to Sierra Leone's e-commerce and delivery challenges. By addressing the critical issues of unreliable delivery services and fragmented ordering systems, Send Me empowered both businesses and consumers, and has become a cornerstone for the growth of online businesses in the country.  In essence, Send Me demonstrates the potential of logistics infrastructure to support e-commerce growth in developing economies.


    Our Hypotheses:

    At Send Me, we hypothesise that by providing a reliable and efficient delivery fleet, a convenient ride-hailing delivery app, and a centralised e-commerce platform, Send Me will significantly improve the e-commerce landscape in Sierra Leone by addressing the critical pain points of lack of delivery services and a centralised platform for restaurants. Thereby increasing customer satisfaction, driving business growth for online merchants, and establishing Send Me as the leading delivery and e-commerce platform in the country.

    Customer Success Stories:

    Through partnerships with businesses like Dev Ventures and individuals like Ayo Sesay, Send Me demonstrated tangible impacts on improving delivery efficiency and enhancing customer conveniences as seen below:

    "Send Me has transformed how we operate at Dev Ventures. Our delivery challenges have vanished. Now, we focus on stocking our shelves while Send Me takes care of the rest. It’s a partnership that’s boosting our sales and customer satisfaction."


    Dez Ventures: Dev Ventures, a grocery business, struggled with delivering products to customers. Upon a friend's recommendation, the owner reached out to Send Me. Today, customers no longer need to visit the store. When an order is placed, the owner requests a Send Me rider, who promptly picks up and delivers the product.

    "Send Me is a lifesaver! No more lunchtime scrambles. Now, delicious food is just a few clicks away." - Ayo Sesay


    Ayo Sesay, a busy professional, found it challenging to get food from restaurants while at work due to difficulty in accessing menus and the inconvenience of back-and-forth communication. Now, Ayo simply visits www.sendmesl.com to place his order. Send Me handles all inquiries and coordination, allowing Ayo to pay only the delivery fee and the price of the item, simplifying his dining experience.

    These success stories underscored the value Send Me brought to its users, fostering a loyal customer base and transforming dining experience

Milestones and Future Outlook:

From humble beginnings with 157 monthly deliveries to orchestrating 2,000 deliveries a month, Send Me witnessed substantial growth, serving over 7,000 individual users and 100+ businesses. The company's relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to innovation foreshadow a promising future, poised for further expansion and impact.

Send Me's evolution exemplifies the power of resilience, innovation, and strategic partnerships in reshaping e-commerce logistics in Sierra Leone. By prioritising customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, and continuous improvement, Send Me stands as a catalyst  of success in the digital economy of Africa, featuring a brighter tomorrow for online businesses and consumers alike. Send Me aims to continuously enhance its operations and extend its delivery network to serve more areas efficiently. Additionally, plans are underway to develop and introduce new features to further enhance the e-commerce app's functionality.