Assessing the Readiness of Africa for the Physical Internet

Abstract

In general, infrastructure is a real handicap that needs to be overcome in order to achieve optimal business performance in Africa. This raises veritable problems of rationality, sustainability and logistics efficiency identified by the notion of the Physical Internet. Based on content analysis, this paper takes into account the present reality of logistics in Africa, and provides an assessment of the economical, environmental and social logistics therein. The areas covered in this study are: air, land across the road and rail, maritime and river, and telecommunications. The study highlights the African logistics challenges, weaknesses, threats, strengths and opportunities. It also highlights the level of each sector and how logistics in Africa is implemented at national, regional (intracontinental) and intercontinental levels. In order to attract the attention of stakeholders on the challenges, a readiness map is proposed relative to the operationalization of the Physical Internet in Africa.