Effectiveness of e-commerce implementation to clearing and forwarding agents in Tanzania

The study aimed at determining effectiveness of e-commerce implementation to clearing and forwarding agents in Tanzania. The study had the following specific objectives: to determine the extent of cost reduction after e-commerce implementation to clearing and forwarding agents; to determine delivery time effectiveness in business operations as a result of e-commerce implementation to clearing and forwarding agents; and to determine increase in productivity due to application of e-commerce to clearing and forwarding agents in Tanzania. The study involved 50 respondents randomly identified from clearing and forwarding agents. Collected data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) which facilitated the use of descriptive tools such as tables and percentages together with multivariate analysis tool of association, particularly canonical correlation. Results from the study revealed that effective application of ICT in the CFAs contributes to information effectiveness. Other identified impacts of effective use of ICT in the CFAs included cost reduction, revenue increase and reduced risk of theft. Canonical correlation measured association of 0.73 on information ef1ect'1veness as well as positive association on productivity increase and costs reduction. The study recommended that CFAs should recruit enough ICT knowledgeable staff, improve integration of ICT systems to all stakeholders and the Government to establish a control mechanism within the Ministry of Science and Technology.