Middle East-based global logistics provider Aramex has contracted with UK-headquartered universal addressing system "what3words" to integrate the addressing system into its e-commerce operations across the Middle East, Asia and Africa to further enhance its last-mile delivery solutions, including difficult to find addresses and locations.
What3words is an address system based on a global grid of 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares, where each square has a unique pre-assigned three-word address. The system is currently available in 10
languages and is being used in more than 170 countries.
The deal with Aramex, which includes an US$8.5m Series B funding round, led by Aramex, is a major step in what3words' goal of becoming a global addressing standard for the delivery, logistics and
courier industries.
In the past few months logistics software provider Blackbay, address verification platform Allies, and the leading supplier of Ireland’s new Eircode system, AutoAddress, have all integrated
what3words to increase efficiency and expand their range of customer delivery points. British firm Direct Today Couriers has reduced the number of failed deliveries by 83% since using three-word
addresses.
Further investments by what3words intended
In May, Mongolia’s state-owned postal delivery service Mongol Post adopted what3words as a national addressing standard. Mongolia covers an area nearly the size of the European Union, but has no
consistent addressing system to serve its three million citizens.
In a statement, what3words said it will use the new investment to launch its voice recognition product in the smartphone, wearables and automotive sectors and develop its three-word address
system in several Asian languages. The investment will also support the launch of an Arabic version, growth of its team and further global expansion.
Nol van Fenema
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