By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
While the Philippines is blessed with beautiful mountains, beaches and other much-desired tourist spots, admit it or not, the challenge is the archipelagic nature of the country.
With more than 7,000 islands that would require air or water travel, and if by so much time must be spent and one must factor the traffic that goes with it.
Given this reality, the geography of the country poses a significant challenge for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) seeking rapid expansion.
Cognizant of this challenge, Ninja Van Philippines, a tech-enabled logistics company, offers Ninja Restock, a B2B resupply service designed to support businesses of all sizes in scaling their operations across the archipelago. With a nationwide express logistics network spanning Batanes to Tawi-tawi, Ninja Van Philippines provides flexible restocking services regardless of a business’s inventory size or delivery frequency.
Ninja Restock streamlined Pickup Coffee’s replenishment process, resulting in substantial cost savings and optimized operations. By consolidating smaller shipments into cost-efficient less-than-truckload (LTL), Ninja Restock reduced delivery costs by 20% while ensuring timely replenishment of all outlets.
Moreover, Ninja Restock helped Pickup Coffee maintain optimal stock levels in all outlets, preventing the stockouts of high-demand products. This service recovered approximately 10% of revenue that would have been lost due to out-of-stock issues.
With Ninja Van Philippines’s strong nationwide coverage supporting LTL freight and interisland delivery, the service accelerated Pickup Coffee’s expansion outside Metro Manila, opening 30 new outlets in 3 months since the partnership. Today, Pickup Coffee receives daily restocking support for its outlets across multiple provinces such as Tarlac, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cebu.
Through customized and personalized restocking and replenishment, Ninja Restock supported Pickup Coffee’s goal of offering high-quality, espresso and milk-based beverages at friendlier prices to 200 outlets spread throughout the archipelago.
“One of the primary challenges faced by growing businesses in the Philippines is timely restocking of high-demand items and stock transfer between locations,” said Jose Alvin Perez, country head of Ninja Van Philippines. “Nearby branches to a Luzon-based warehouse may support regular inventory replenishment, but regular restocking schedules to storefronts in Visayas and Mindanao may not be easily supported by traditional or in-house logistics partners.”
Retail Experience and Seamless Logistics
Pickup Coffee is one of the Restock partners Ninja Van Philippines is highlighting in its latest white paper titled “From shelves to shoppers: The art of seamless logistics,” highlighting the intricate link between retail experience and logistics efficiency.
The paper underscores how critical efficient logistics are to retail success. It addresses challenges like understocking, overstocking, and inaccurate inventory tracking that businesses often face when their logistics partners fail to meet their needs.
“We’re living in a world with endless shopping choices,” says Perez. “Our white paper shows how retailers can leverage logistics to create a seamless blend of online and offline experiences, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and driving business success.”
“At Ninja Van, we aim to provide seamless logistics solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a dynamic retail environment. This white paper reflects our commitment to helping retailers navigate the complexities of B2B restocking,” adds Adzim Halim, Chief International Officer, Ninja Van Group.
Ninja Van Group entered Southeast Asia a decade ago during the early stages of the e-commerce scene’s development, securing a strategic position to observe its evolution. This laid the groundwork for the Group to expand its services beyond e-commerce and into other express verticals, including business-to-business inventory restocking and cold chain.
Since its launch in April 2024, Ninja Restock has enabled Ninja Van Philippines to assist numerous brands in resolving their B2B restocking challenges.