{"id":69467,"date":"2022-01-12T09:21:12","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T09:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vectorgl.com\/?p=69467"},"modified":"2025-05-23T09:03:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T09:03:52","slug":"case-study-collaboration-expertise-transport-50-million-books-to-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vectorgl.com\/case-study-collaboration-expertise-transport-50-million-books-to-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Case Study – Collaboration & Expertise Transport 50 Million Books to Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”70″ padding_bottom=”70″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”52291″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635457406823{padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Books For Africa considers Vector Global Logistics to be a true partner in their supply chain and trusts us to get things done.<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” background_image=”16626″ background_color=”#003c6f” el_class=”testimonial-main-container”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”70″ padding_bottom=”70″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″ el_class=”bullet-list-box”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635431071522{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Major Roadblocks<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Books For Africa, an incredible non-profit organization and the world\u2019s largest shipper of donated books and other educational materials to the African continent, faced major roadblocks in their logistics and supply chain such as:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″ el_class=”bullet-list-box” css=”.vc_custom_1635431577495{margin-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”Title-Bullet-points”]<\/p>\n

Increasing costs<\/span><\/h6>\n

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due to incurring storage fees and other cost barriers along the process.<\/p>\n

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Continued delays<\/h6>\n

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associated with unplanned logistics constraints at different points.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text el_class=”Title-Bullet-points”]<\/p>\n

Local governance bureaucracy<\/h6>\n

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in multiple destinations in the region that further delayed the process.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″ el_class=”bullet-list-box”][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]These issues are very familiar to many non-profit organizations and they continued to plague Books For Africa, posing a long-term problem. [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”70″ padding_bottom=”70″ background_image=”16697″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″ el_class=”bullet-list-box”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635451686574{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

The more they spent, the less they could impact children in need.<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”” el_class=”Case-Video-Section”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”52290″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635457919906{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]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\u2019s interests first<\/a>. Like many charitable organizations in their position, they wanted a logistics partner who understood the industry but wouldn\u2019t take advantage of them or their budgets.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635451737915{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

Books For Africa chose Vector Global Logistics.<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635451596604{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]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\u2014including the smiling faces of children who received their very own books for the first time![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”with_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”40″ padding_bottom=”40″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452476470{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

The Solution<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635451912667{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Vector\u2019s 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.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452107153{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Our comprehensive logistic plan was designed to help BFA increase shipment volume over time and reduce overall cost and lead time.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635451954473{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Through Vector\u2019s cost-saving methods and expertise in hard-to-reach regions and global ports, the partnership was a perfect, purpose-driven fit.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452932693{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]By working together with Books For Africa, Vector\u2019s team provided a full logistics analysis and action plan designed to streamline our export operations,<\/span> in partnership with our trusted and knowledgeable agents,<\/span> in order to move containers as efficiently as possible<\/span> with a relentless focus on minimizing costs<\/span> and avoiding Government bureaucracy<\/span> hurdles in Africa.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452534691{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]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.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452549211{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Pat Plonski states, \u201cVector 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.\u201d
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452563507{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]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.
\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635458126559{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]When an organization has a mission to reach the world, but doesn\u2019t 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<\/a> to our amazing clients.
\n<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635452665258{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]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!<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” background_image=”16626″ background_color=”#003c6f” el_class=”testimonial-main-container”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”with_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”40″ padding_bottom=”40″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635453825027{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

A Future for Change<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635458319824{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]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 \u201cLogistics with Purpose.\u201d<\/a> Each of our partners can take pride in knowing that they play a part in changing the world and making it a better place.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” background_image=”16626″ background_color=”#003c6f” el_class=”testimonial-main-container”][vc_column][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”with_pattern” z_index=”” padding_top=”40″ padding_bottom=”40″][vc_column css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”grid” text_align=”left” css_animation=”element_from_bottom” transition_delay=”1″][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635454586405{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

About Books For Africa<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1635458534030{padding-bottom: 25px !important;}”]Books For Africa<\/a> is a non-profit organization focused on providing books and resources to \u201cend the book famine in Africa\u201d through education and make a difference in the lives of children and those in need.[\/vc_column_text]

\n\tIn addition, Books For Africa has special initiatives that target specific needs such as:<\/p>\n