EXPORTING MADE EASY
Exporting to Countries With No Address System—Is It Even Possible?
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In the world of global trade, we often take certain basics for granted: roads, warehouses, functioning customs systems—and perhaps most critically, addresses. Yet for millions of people around the world, street addresses simply do not exist.
From sprawling informal settlements in African megacities to rural villages in South Asia and remote desert communities in the Middle East, the absence of a formal address system poses a fundamental question for exporters: How do you ship products to places that technically don’t exist on a map?
This blog explores the surprising challenges—and the emerging solutions—of exporting to regions with no fixed address infrastructure. Whether you’re a seasoned logistics professional or a new exporter trying to reach untapped markets, this topic highlights how innovation, technology, and cultural understanding can make the impossible entirely possible.
The Global Address Problem
Around 4 billion people worldwide lack a reliable or universally recognized street address. That’s more than half the world’s population.
Where Are Addresses Missing?
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Many urban slums and rural areas lack formal postal addresses. Cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Kinshasa have large informal settlements with minimal infrastructure.
• South and Southeast Asia: In India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, vast rural areas are served by directional descriptions like “behind the mango tree near the temple.”
• The Middle East and North Africa: Nomadic communities, desert settlements, and informal housing areas often lack government-mapped addresses.
• Latin America: Favelas and informal neighborhoods often grow faster than authorities can map them.
Without an address, residents can’t easily receive packages, register for formal services, or fully participate in digital commerce. For exporters, this creates a major logistical headache—but also a unique opportunity.
Why Exporters Should Care
1. Huge Market Potential
People without addresses aren’t “off the grid” by choice. Many of them are upwardly mobile, digitally connected consumers. Mobile money, smartphones, and e-commerce platforms are common in places like rural Kenya or Bangladesh—even if postal codes are not.
Untapped Demand: Exporters who can solve last-mile delivery to unaddressed regions gain access to fast-growing, underserved markets.
2. Export Diversification
As traditional markets mature, exporters need to diversify into frontier markets. That includes places with challenging infrastructure.
3. Corporate Responsibility and Inclusion
Companies are under growing pressure to improve inclusivity in their supply chains and distribution networks. Serving hard-to-reach areas shows commitment to development and equitable trade.
The Challenges of Exporting Without Addresses
Exporting to countries without address systems isn’t just a postal problem—it affects nearly every aspect of the supply chain.
1. Customs and Documentation
• Paperwork Mismatch: Shipping documents often require a full recipient address. Without one, customs clearance can be delayed or denied.
• Fraud Risk: Lack of address verification can make exports vulnerable to fraud or mis-delivery.
2. Last-Mile Delivery
• Couriers don’t know where to deliver.
• Drivers may spend hours calling recipients for directions or attempting delivery multiple times.
• Delivery costs skyrocket due to inefficiency.
3. Customer Experience
• Missed deliveries lead to frustration.
• Inability to receive goods can limit trust in foreign suppliers or platforms.
Innovative Solutions Filling the Gap
Fortunately, the world is not sitting still. Several creative approaches are addressing the challenge of address-less delivery.
1. Digital Addressing Platforms
What3Words
This UK-based system divides the entire world into 3m x 3m squares and assigns each one a unique three-word address (like “paper.cactus.moon”). It’s precise, easy to communicate, and usable even in areas with no formal street names.
• Used by logistics companies, emergency services, and NGOs.
• Works offline and in local languages.
• Used in parts of Mongolia, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Google Plus Codes
Google’s system generates a short code (e.g., 7FG6+3X, Nairobi) that acts like a GPS-based address. It can be shared via SMS or email and used in navigation apps.
• Free and open source.
• Integrated into Google Maps and widely usable.
OkHi
Founded in Kenya, OkHi provides location-based addressing using smartphone GPS data. It enables users to create a “smart address” linked to a name, phone number, and location history—ideal for urban informal areas.
2. Local Delivery Innovations
Community Pickup Points
In areas with no addresses, many delivery firms partner with:
• Local shops
• Petrol stations
• Kiosks or mobile money agents
These act as drop-off and collection points, allowing consumers to pick up their goods at a known landmark.
Crowdsourced Delivery
Platforms like Sendy (East Africa) and Gojek (Southeast Asia) rely on local motorcycle riders who know neighborhoods intimately and can deliver based on descriptions rather than maps.
SMS-Driven Navigation
Some exporters use manual systems where recipients confirm delivery via SMS with landmarks like “green gate opposite school” or “third street after mosque.” Drivers are trained to interpret local instructions.
How Exporters Can Adapt
If you’re an exporter or helping businesses enter markets with poor address infrastructure, here are practical steps you can take:
1. Embrace Alternative Addressing
• Accept What3Words, Plus Codes, or OkHi addresses at checkout.
• Educate customers on how to find and use these systems.
• Train staff or distributors to validate and input alternative addresses correctly.
2. Partner with Local Couriers
• Global couriers often struggle with last-mile delivery in unaddressed areas. Work with local logistics firms that know the terrain.
• Choose partners who already serve informal settlements or remote villages.
3. Offer Click-and-Collect Options
• Allow customers to select a pickup point instead of home delivery.
• Partner with local retail shops to act as pickup hubs.
4. Adjust Your CRM and ERP Systems
• Update software to handle non-standard address formats.
• Allow geolocation-based entries and note fields for directions.
5. Use Mobile-First Communication
• Send delivery confirmations, tracking links, and address confirmations via SMS or WhatsApp—not just email.
• Enable real-time chat with drivers or customer service to handle complex deliveries.
Case Studies in Address-Free Exporting
1. Jumia (Africa’s Amazon)
Operating in countries like Nigeria and Kenya, Jumia delivers to many locations without formal addresses. It uses a mix of:
• Local pickup stations
• Phone-based delivery coordination
• Rider familiarity with delivery zones
Jumia’s logistics arm has become so skilled at last-mile delivery that it now offers third-party services to other exporters.
2. Mongolian Postal Service + What3Words
Mongolia’s national postal service adopted What3Words as a standard addressing system. This allowed them to:
• Serve nomadic populations
• Speed up rural deliveries
• Integrate modern mapping without overhauling traditional infrastructure
3. DHL + Google Plus Codes
DHL has used Plus Codes for pilot programs in India and Latin America to improve delivery success rates in underserved areas.
The Bigger Picture: Trade, Inclusion, and Innovation
Exporting to countries with no address systems isn’t just about logistics—it’s about economic inclusion.
• Financial Inclusion: E-commerce and international trade can help residents of informal or rural communities access global products, prices, and opportunities.
• Local Development: By serving these areas, exporters can stimulate demand, support local delivery jobs, and help integrate communities into the formal economy.
• Innovation Catalyst: The logistical challenges of these areas drive creative thinking—some of which can be exported to improve services even in developed markets.
Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
While the opportunities are vast, exporters must proceed thoughtfully:
1. Don’t Overpromise
2. Check Legal and Customs Issues
Some countries may require formal addresses on import documents. Work with local brokers to navigate requirements.
3. Respect Privacy
GPS-based address systems collect sensitive location data. Ensure you comply with data protection laws like GDPR when handling user information.
4. Beware of Exploitation
Don’t use address-less populations as test cases without offering them real benefits. Exporting ethically includes fair pricing, accurate delivery, and consumer protection.
The Future of Addressing in Trade
We are moving from a world of fixed locations to a world of dynamic presence. Thanks to smartphones, satellites, and AI, people can be located and served without needing to live on a numbered street.
As technology continues to evolve:
• Drones and autonomous delivery systems may navigate by GPS, not postcodes.
• AI-driven logistics could optimize routes based on real-time user locations.
• Governments may leapfrog traditional addressing and adopt digital-first systems.
Exporters who adapt early will be ready to serve the next billion consumers—those living just outside the bounds of the mapped world.
Final Thoughts: The New Frontier
Exporting to countries with no address system is not only possible—it’s becoming essential.
What once seemed like an obstacle is now an invitation: to innovate, to include, and to rethink what’s possible in global trade.
By embracing technology, working with local partners, and respecting the realities of unmapped communities, exporters can unlock new markets—and in doing so, help shape a more connected and equitable world.
After all, just because a place isn’t on the map doesn’t mean there isn’t a customer there.