Bamburi Cement’s supply chain digitization reshaped how the company moves cement from its factories to customers. Adapting the technology into its everyday operations solved major problems that held back delivery, diminished safety, and significantly reduced customer trust.
The company operates two major plants (in Mombasa and Athi River). Each plant fills roughly 300 trucks with cement on average, an immense logistics challenge.
And before supply chain digitization, the issues bottlenecked throughput and eroded operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. The outbound logistics and supply were a nightmare for everyone involved. From customers to the driver, managers, and company leadership.
Bamburi Cement’s Supply Chain Issues
Trucks at Bamburi’s plants lined up for hours before the company’s supply chain digitization. Drivers filled forms by hand and sometimes skipped lines with fake timestamps, which, as you can imagine, created a world of chaos.
Orders were written on paper and were prone to errors and tampering. Trucks got lost on the road or delivered tons of cement to the wrong place, wasting money and hurting customer confidence.
Financial losses from theft and accidents were also stacking up, significantly impacting the bottom line. It was normal for cement to go missing in transit, and sometimes even in the yard, because no one knew where every bag went. The lack of accountability was disastrous.
Ultimately, it was a waste of epic proportions, and managers knew they had to get it under control or else the business was headed for a dramatic exit from the industry.
The cement industry supply chain in Kenya demanded faster, safer, and more transparent movement of cement. Bamburi Cement’s supply chain digitization aimed to fix that.
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The Journey to Digitize Outbound Cement Supply
Bamburi’s leaders began by identifying the most critical pain point. Slow trucks blocked the yard and delayed deliveries. Poor visibility on the road made theft so much easier. And manually writing and reviewing forms slowed down every step of the logistics and supply chain process.
Their first move was to implement real-time tracking of cement trucks. GPS devices were fixed on every delivery truck, allowing managers to monitor each truck’s speed, route, and stops live on screens. The system flagged operators when a driver went off route or idled too long.
With GPS, drivers stayed honest, accidents dropped, and cement reached the right place on time. For the next step, the company digitized how orders flowed. Prior to that, when customers called or faxed orders to sales reps, it could take hours, sometimes days, to confirm.
However, following the supply chain digitization process, customers could use the Clickit app, a self-service portal integrated with Bamburi Cement’s ERP. Customers could see prices, place orders, and track delivery status themselves.
Because the app was connected to the ERP, supply chain planners could see the order and adjust inventory levels in real-time. The speed and efficiency of the entire process also saw that trucks no longer crowded the depot but were lined up for the right orders at the right time.
A digital queue system replaced paper tokens, which also changed the loading process. Using the perfect blend of technology and security guards, Bambur could effectively check each truck’s details. CCTV watched every load, and every bag loaded was logged in the ERP.
All of these meant no more missing cement.
The Impact of Bamburi’s Cement Supply Chain Digitization
By connecting GPS, ERP, the Clickit app, and a digital queue system, Bamburi made its cement supply chain digital from order to delivery. This step cut delays, reduced theft, and kept customers happy.
Here is a snapshot of the impact:
1. Customers Got Cement Faster
Truck turnaround times dropped from hours to less than one hour per load. And more importantly, no one had to chase down missing orders or call to ask when their truck would arrive. Real-time data gave managers the power to spot problems early.
2. Safety Improved
Accidents involving Bamburi trucks went down thanks to GPS alerts and driver coaching. Trucks now follow assigned routes and safe speeds. And the company began saving money on insurance and repairs.
3. Losses Fell
Because the company could trace every bag of cement due to the CCTV and electronic logs, fraud dropped significantly, and losses fell. No one could sneak extra loads or slip cement off the back.
4. Customer Trust Soared
The Clickit app allowed customers to place and track orders on their phones. They could see truck status in real time, which meant no more guessing games on critical questions like when the truck would show up. The increased trust also brought in more repeat orders.
5. Fewer Mistakes
Bamburi’s managers used the ERP integration in the cement sector to link every process. Every step is logged and connected from customer order to loading to delivery. This digital chain means fewer mistakes and faster fixes.
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Lessons for African Supply Chains
Heavy industries in Africa often face the same problems Bamburi solved: long delays, missing goods, low visibility, and poor data flow. Bamburi’s story shows that digitization can fix these issues and bring real gains.
Here are some key lessons:
1. Identify Pain Points
Look at where your supply chain bleeds the most. Is it at the yard gate? On the road? In paperwork? Choose that as your first step. Bamburi started with GPS on trucks because road losses hurt them most.
2. Use Real-Time Tracking
Fixing real-time tracking of trucks and other vehicles stops theft and keeps drivers honest. If you set up the GPS alerts to notify you when trucks go off course or stop too long, you will have significantly more control over the process. That alone can save millions.
3. Connect Everything
Don’t stop at one tool. Bamburi linked its GPS with ERP and the Clickit app. This integration kept everyone on the same page. Orders flow from the customer to the warehouse to the truck without a single paper form.
4. Make Customers Part of the Solution
A customer app like Clickit builds trust because it keeps them informed every step of the process. Customers see their orders, track trucks, and know when cement will arrive. That reduces calls and boosts confidence.
5. Think Safety and Security
By installing GPS systems, the company was able to significantly cut speeding and unsafe driving, which resulted in fewer accidents. CCTV and digital logs stopped fraud and theft. When you account for every product, truckloads are much more secure and traceable.
6. Take Small Steps, But Keep Moving
Bamburi didn’t digitize everything in its supply chain overnight. The company started with GPS, then added apps and ERP links. Each step built on the last. African supply chains can follow the same model.
Read more: Lessons from IKEA’s global supply chain crisis (2021–2023)
Putting It All Together
Bamburi Cement’s supply chain digitization didn’t just fix a slow and cumbersome logistics process. It changed how the company runs its entire supply chain operation from top to bottom. It cut waste, saved money, and won back customer trust.
Bambur turned chaos into a controlled, digital flow of cement, and African supply chain leaders can do the same. They can beat delays, theft, and errors by starting small and linking each tool.
Logistics managers who want to compete tomorrow must embrace robust tech solutions now. In a digitized world, Africa can no longer afford to continue with manual ordering and tracking.
Every day lost to paper forms and guesswork costs money, every hour a truck sits in a yard is money wasted, and every stolen bag is a profit lost.
Obinabo Tochukwu Tabansi is a supply chain digital writer & ghostwriter helping professionals and business owners across Africa explore various strategies that work and learn from the success and failures of various supply chains across the globe. He also ghostwrites social content for logistics & supply chain businesses
