Inospace has started working on a new 5 000m2 ‘Last Mile Logistics Hub’ in Paarden Eiland, just outside Cape Town’s city centre. The Inospace Logistics Hub facility, which was previously used by a long-term Inospace client who relocated to a nearby business park, will be transformed into a distribution centre with thirty separate units and various technology-driven logistics services.
Also Read: Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront to Get a New Desalination Plant
Traditional commerce has been revolutionized by the digitization of the retail business, according to Inospace Director Jacques Weber, which has been further realized and expedited by Covid-19. While South African consumers are increasingly opting for online buying over in-store shopping, the expectation of rapid satisfaction remains. Weber stated that customers desire low-cost, quick delivery choices. As a result, metropolitan distribution hubs for commodities have rapidly expanded.
What is Last-Mile Delivery?
Last-mile delivery is a term used to describe the final leg of a business-to-consumer parcel delivery service, in which e-tailers employ logistical solutions such as procuring warehouse and distribution space to keep their inventory as near to their customers as possible. According to Weber, the desire for speedy, efficient delivery of goods to consumers near high-density commercial and retail nodes has lately boosted demand for last-mile real estate. He further stated that enterprises’ need to deliver items into crucial commercial and residential nodes has been significant. Prospective tenants from various industries have expressed interest in the new wooden-floored Hub at Island Works.
Big firms searching for large-scale logistics rooms aren’t the only ones in need of space. Smaller facilities, such as those supplied by Inospace, are drawing a lot of interest from SMMEs in need of last-mile logistical space. The firm claims to have a 95% occupancy rate and has opened a slew of additional parks in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Island Works, the birthplace of Cape Town’s wool industry, is steeped in history. The structures were built in the 1930s and are located in the heart of a famous stretch between the water and the city. The property offers several transportation options, including access to the adjacent N1 freeway. Due to its strategic position and demand for logistical facilities near the city, it has remained completely occupied during the epidemic.
The 26 000m2 Island Works business park was bought by Inospace in 2017, and it is one of the company’s more extensive business parks in its 42-site national portfolio. Island Works’ new logistics centre will have industrial style amenities, an independent coffee shop, architecturally planned lounge areas, and breakout spaces, all while being tastefully modernized with current elements while keeping its vintage charm. The Logistics hub, which will open in March 2022, will have a manned welcome, conference rooms, delivery and drop-off areas, and technology-enabled logistics services, as well as original exposed brickwork and eco-friendly facilities.
