Jan/Feb 2006

An African-based online system aiming at consolidating international consignment tracking information from a range of disparate sources has been launched under the name RufaaTrack. It is targeting both shipping and air freight, offering what looks an appealing starting price of $1 (one US dollar) for each tracking instance.

The company is understood to be the brainchild of Mauritius-based Tangaza, a design agency which quotes also quotes an address in Atlanta, Georgia, but focuses on African and South American business. It has support from Comtrends, an Atlanta-based Internet hosting company.

The service does not appear to offer physical tracking capabilities, but rather to provide a Web-based conduit through which forwarders and handlers can channel information about the progress of consignments around the world, providing a single look-up resource for recipients who want to track goods online.

There is also an aspiration to create an online trading community, through which consignors are invited to submit consignment notes, invoices, airwaybills and so on, which are delivered to recipients to enable them to start pre-clearance processes.

The name "Rufaa" is apparently derived from a Swahili term for freight and logistics.