THE PHILIPPINES, JUNE 6, 2012: Bjorn Pardo has been an online merchant since his high school days, and even then, the biggest concern for both sellers and buyers has been logistics. In 2004, when he decided to put up Xend, Pardo’s aim was to eliminate the hassles and high costs of shipping.
“I wanted to tackle these two challenges and pass the benefits on to my fellow eCommerce merchants,” said Pardo. “I founded Xend eight years ago with one rider and one office staff and it just grew from there.” The company now has come full circle as a total logistics provider, with more than 100 people in its employ.
“Our goal is to allow our clients to ship with us without leaving their seats. They can do everything online and in most cases (they) do not have to speak to anyone. Everything can be fully automated,” Pardo said of his business. “We provide the tools to make the shipping process easier.”
As Pardo views it, Xend doesn’t have any direct competitors because they focus on a very specific market. Even the company tag line bears target consumers: Built for eCommerce. “Everything we build is tailor made for the needs of that market,” Pardo explained. He admits that there have been copycats, but haven’t been able to gain traction. “They are trying to replicate our business model but their intentions are wrong. To succeed in the market, you have to live and breathe it.”
In its eight years of operations, Xend has developed initiatives that help make the shipping process more convenient and more efficient for both business owners and consumers. “(We have) real time online booking and the myXend Shipment Count Badge to name a couple,” shared Pardo. They also offer free pick-up services within Metro Manila and nearby areas in Rizal province.
Pardo assured that there will be more innovations coming in. “I want Xend to be known for helping changing the way online merchants ship their products. We have always thought outside of the box and we will continue to try to solve problems in ways that seem inconceivable,” he said.
