Businesses That Raise Cuan During A Pandemic: Logistics And Courier Services

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The logistics business and delivery or courier services are sectors that have seen a growth spurt during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which is due to the increase in digital community activities during the pandemic, including online or online shopping.

Chairman of the Indonesian Logistics and Forwarder Association (ALFI) DPP Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, quoted from Antara, Monday, November 16, said that logistics activities during the pandemic can still survive and even experience positive growth, namely e-commerce logistics services and courrier services.

Yukki referred to Ministry of Finance data which noted that the logistics segment was relatively stable during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, purchase transactions via e-commerce increased 18.1 percent to 98.3 million transactions with the total transaction value increasing 9.9 percent to IDR 20.7 trillion.

This was admitted by the Head of the Solo JNE Main Branch, Bambang Widiatmoko, who said that at the start of the pandemic in March and April, the volume of goods shipments increased by 30 percent.

"This is influenced by the number of people doing activities at home, but still making online purchase transactions," he said.

Bambang explained that before the pandemic the average volume of shipments from Solo to various regions such as Jabodetabek and East Java reached 20 tons per month. Some of the goods were sent via land and air.

During the pandemic, air shipments plummeted, because many flight routes were closed due to no passengers, while land shipments increased.

To seize this opportunity, Bambang said that his party must strengthen the fleet by increasing the number of trucks. Currently, the company is reinforced by 35 fleet units, which are dominated by Isuzu ATPM, such as the Giga and Elf NKR trucks.

According to him, the delivery business is a business of trust and punctuality. Hence, the fleet that is deployed must also have reliability.

"As a business actor, efficient vehicles are needed, but for a business like this, reliable vehicles are really needed. Moreover, our operations are 24 hours without stopping, so we need reliability support," said Bambang.

Innovation

Meanwhile, the Regional Head of Astra Isuzu Central Java and DIY Sucipto said that his party continues to make various innovations to support business growth in the logistics and courier sectors.

In addition, it also continues to improve after-sales service by providing various spare parts needed by its customers on the routes it traverses.

"Thus, if there is damage and it is necessary to replace spare parts, it can be obtained easily and quickly. So, it will not disturb consumers' working time too long," said Sucipto.

He admitted that during the pandemic, his party worked seriously on the growing industrial sector, such as logistics. The logistics and courier sector business growth trend in Central Java and Yogyakarta is predicted to continue to grow.

Sucipto is optimistic that the logistics and courier business will continue to improve in the future after the COVID-19 epidemic. This will have a positive impact on the automotive business in general and Isuzu in particular.

Based on data from Gaikindo, commercial car sales in the automotive sector experienced positive growth, while nationally the Isuzu variant's market share in commercial vehicles was growing.

The growth of the automotive sector is supported by the strategic position of Central Java and Yogyakarta as a transit area or link between the western and eastern regions of Java Island using land transportation.

The improvement in the automotive market in Central Java and Yogyakarta has also had an impact on Isuzu's market share in the region. The highest position is in Solo and its surroundings with a market share of 40.2 percent, followed by DIY 36.2 percent, Pekalongan 30.8 percent, and Semarang 23.1 percent.