Kobo360, the Goldman Sachs-backed logistics platform, has unveiled its latest venture: HaulSight, a subscription-based fleet management software poised to transform Africa’s logistics industry. As a software-only solution, HaulSight offers corporate clients tools to monitor and manage their fleet operations, bringing a new revenue model to Kobo360 beyond its well-known truck-hailing services.
HaulSight, developed earlier this year, is specifically tailored for large-scale manufacturers and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies such as Dangote, Unilever, and Flour Mills. Unlike Kobo360’s existing platform, HaulSight doesn’t involve the logistical hurdles of sourcing trucks or managing drivers. Instead, it provides visibility over fleet operations, allowing businesses to streamline route planning and enhance cost efficiency.
“This software enables companies to onboard their own drivers directly and maintain control over fleet operations,” revealed an insider familiar with HaulSight’s development. The new platform comes at a critical time as increasing fuel costs are straining truck operators’ profit margins, forcing logistics platforms like Kobo360 to rethink their business models.
Rising Costs Challenge the Sector
Over recent years, Kobo360 has had to reduce its commission rates from 20% in 2019 to 8% in 2021, illustrating the tight margins and challenging negotiation dynamics within the logistics sector. This adjustment contrasts sharply with taxi-hailing services, which have gradually increased rates.
Alex Adenuga, CEO of Movam, a fellow B2B logistics startup, noted the complexities of fleet management in Africa’s business landscape. “Fleet management software is essential for large businesses to save costs, but it’s a difficult market for VC-backed companies to fully monetise,” Adenuga explained. “Sales cycles can extend for months, even years, with high switching costs making it hard to onboard clients already using established systems.”
A Competitive Yet Promising Space
The fleet management software space is packed with established players, both local and international. While foreign companies charge $7-$50 per vehicle per month, local providers price their services at ₦100,000–₦150,000, which, though affordable for large corporations, remains costly for smaller enterprises.
Yet, Kobo360’s experience since 2017 and its relationships with major logistics clients offer a strategic advantage. HaulSight’s targeted approach to corporate fleets could fill a major gap in the ecosystem by providing needed visibility and efficiency to the “chaotic” logistics landscape. “Truck logistics is chaotic,” a B2B e-commerce expert noted. “Efficient fleet management software can solve the pain points these companies face.”
As Africa’s logistics sector continues to evolve, HaulSight may well be Kobo360’s answer to balancing industry pressures with the need for growth, profitability, and technological innovation. It is important that the company continues to make advancements, considering its former CEO only recently stepped down.
