Of the last 300 shipments with Books For Africa (at the time of this study), 86% have been billed within the $500 quoted rate and 73% at or below the quoted rate. This serves as a true testament to the precise nature of our operations and ability to deliver on our promise. For us at Vector, it is an absolute pleasure to help Books For Africa in their mission.
— Adrian Purtill, Director of Business Development for Strategic Accounts
Major Roadblocks
Books For Africa, an incredible non-profit organization and the world’s largest shipper of donated books and other educational materials to the African continent, faced major roadblocks in their logistics and supply chain such as:
Increasing costs
Increasing costsdue to incurring storage fees and other cost barriers along the process.
Continued delays
associated with unplanned logistics constraints at different points.
Local governance bureaucracy
in multiple destinations in the region that further delayed the process.
These issues are very familiar to many non-profit organizations and they continued to plague Books For Africa, posing a long-term problem.
The more they spent, the less they could impact children in need.
They determined that they needed a knowledgeable freight forwarder that would not only find the best solutions to their problems but put their non-profit’s interests first. Like many charitable organizations in their position, they wanted a logistics partner who understood the industry but wouldn’t take advantage of them or their budgets.
Books For Africa chose Vector Global Logistics.
Through our mission of doing good while also representing our partners well, BFA knew they would be in good hands. They decided to start small as a test case, but quickly realized that the change was paving the way for a larger impact. As BFA shipped more, they began to see the results they were looking for—including the smiling faces of children who received their very own books for the first time!
The Solution
Vector’s logistics and assessment team rapidly engaged with Books For Africa to analyze in detail their end-to-end supply chain constraints and local discrepancies in each of the destinations in Africa.
Our comprehensive logistic plan was designed to help BFA increase shipment volume over time and reduce overall cost and lead time.
Through Vector’s cost-saving methods and expertise in hard-to-reach regions and global ports, the partnership was a perfect, purpose-driven fit.
By working together with Books For Africa, Vector’s team provided a full logistics analysis and action plan designed to streamline our export operations, in partnership with our trusted and knowledgeable agents, in order to move containers as efficiently as possible with a relentless focus on minimizing costs and avoiding Government bureaucracy hurdles in Africa.
Vector not only assisted with shipping books and educational materials overseas, but we enabled BFA to make better use of their non-profit budget, ultimately allowing them to send much-needed resources to more students in need.
Pat Plonski states, “Vector has helped [us] clear containers that have become stuck in port for several months. In one instance in Liberia, Vector was able to provide an agent in there to not only handle the clearance of a container stuck in port, but to mediate between conflicting recipient parties.”
These quick-thinking, problem-solving solutions have helped this non-profit and many others during the most difficult challenges of international logistics and operations, especially when they are new to the industry or shipping to hard-to-reach areas.
When an organization has a mission to reach the world, but doesn’t have the time or experience to navigate such a complicated industry, they need someone they can trust to help deliver their precious cargo. We are proud to be their partner and offer non-profit expertise to our amazing clients.
Because of these successful logistics and cost-saving measures, as well as a collaborative process between our teams, Vector has been privileged to work with Books For Africa for the past five years as they strive to educate more children across the continent. Since 1988, BFA has shipped over 50 million books to 52 different African countries!
Vector Global Logistics is the kind of partnership we look for. In our history, we have sent over 50 million books to countries all across Africa, and are grateful to have worked with Vector for the past five years. It’s been a great relationship, and we also value and appreciate the philanthropic spirit of our friends at Vector. They are premier shippers.
— Patrick Plonski, Executive Director of Books For Africa
A Future for Change
At Vector we are passionate about logistics and supply chain, especially when it comes to using our expertise to make a difference. This is why our motto is “Logistics with Purpose.” Each of our partners can take pride in knowing that they play a part in changing the world and making it a better place.
The world's youngest population resides in Africa. The lack of educational infrastructure and resources leave the idle mind on a troublesome path. Books For Africa offers that idle mind a tool to tomorrow's dream.
— Matilda Arhin, Vector Team Member and Books For Africa Board Member
About Books For Africa
Books For Africa is a non-profit organization focused on providing books and resources to “end the book famine in Africa” through education and make a difference in the lives of children and those in need.
In addition, Books For Africa has special initiatives that target specific needs such as:
- Agricultural libraries to meet the demand for primary- and secondary- level books on agricultural education.
- Girls empowerment collections which aims to inspire and engage girls with relevant and empowering books.
- The law and democracy initiative to address this emerging continent’s appalling scarcity of law and human rights books.
- French books, to promote appropriate materials for French-speaking learners in Africa
- BFA Publishing which allows for books to be published and custom printed in local languages through partnership with a publisher.
Thank you to Pat Plonksi for joining us on our Logistics with Purpose podcast, presented in partnership with Supply Chain Now, to discuss leading a non-profit through the pandemic.
Congratulations to BFA on transporting their first 50 million books! We are excited to assist you with the next 50 million!
Learn how we can help your non-profit achieve your shipping and logistics goals.
