what3words partners with global logistics giant Aramex

Aramex operates in 60 countries around the world, and will use what3words in its e-commerce fulfilment operations across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to further enhance its last-mile delivery solutions.

what3words is an address system based on a global grid of 57 trillion 3mx3m squares, where each square has a unique pre-assigned 3-word address. The solution helps everyone who needs to find or share a location - whether they are navigation apps, governments, logistics firms, travel guides or NGOs. what3words is currently available in 10 languages and is being used in more than 170 countries.

Aramex’s integration of the technology into its e-commerce operations demonstrates its commitment to investing in innovative solutions, to not only enhance its business operations, but make the logistics and transportation industry more efficient and effective.

“We are pleased to be partnering with what3words. By integrating 3 word addresses into our e-commerce operations across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, we are better able to reach more consumers worldwide, even those in difficult to access locations,” said Hussein Hachem, CEO of Aramex. “The partnership is also perfectly aligned with our commitment to becoming a technology-based enterprise, looking for new and innovative solutions to enhance our operations. We look forward to reaping the rewards and efficiencies the integration with what3words will create for our business.”

Chris Sheldrick, CEO and Co-Founder of what3words commented: “We are on a mission to change the way people communicate location, to make the world a more efficient, less frustrating and a safer place with 3-word addresses. Aramex is recognised as one of the most innovative logistics providers in the world, and this partnership will help to propel what3words toward our goal of becoming a global addressing standard.”

Aramex’s investment and implementation will rapidly extend what3words’ growing reach in 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 have reduced the number of failed deliveries by 83% since using 3 word addresses.

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 3 million citizens, 30% of whom are nomadic, roaming an area of more than 1.5 million square kilometres.

what3words will use the new investment to launch its voice recognition product in the smartphone, wearables, and automotive sectors and develop its 3-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.

Since its launch in 2013, what3words has experienced tremendous success and with over twenty major awards has become one of the most lauded UK startups in recent times. In 2015, the company was awarded the prestigious Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Innovation and was named in the Nominet 100 alongside the likes of Google. Earlier this year the business was awarded an exclusive D&AD Black Pencil, two prestigious Webby Awards and named EY’s British Accelerating Entrepreneur.

IMAGES: Hussein Hachem and Chris Sheldrick