For the past two months, Total Logistics Solution, owned by Charmaine Alleyne, has been managing logistics for corporations and entrepreneurs as well as providing immigration services, document preparation and filing needs. However, the service that has caught the attention of many people is its unique wait-in-line option.
The concept for the wait-in-line service was arrived at after one of the company’s employees had to wait a long time in line to file a client’s compliance documents at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). While there, the employee realized others in line were complaining about the lengthy waiting process. She and a few others, who could not wait any longer, were forced to leave. The employee noted that with many local services not being provided online or some people not being tech savvy enough for those services offered online, many have to join queues and wait for lengthy periods, spending precious time when they could have been handling other important matters. She shared this with her colleagues who agreed it might be a great service to offer. Since the wait-in-line service was added, the company has seen a number of clients make use of it, some have requested it for the long lines at the GRA, the cental passport office and banks.
Originally Alleyne started the business to take advantage of the booming oil and gas sector, hoping to provide logistics services to companies in that sector. Though Total Logistics Solution is yet to take on the oil and gas sector, it is already managing the implementation of operations for several corporations. The business caters more for foreign companies as it realizes that they would not be au fait with all the necessary procedures.
“…Most foreigners when they come here, they’re looking for an organization or a company that can have this work done for them and manage their company when it comes to the corporate aspect of renewal, annual updates, annual returns, auditing financial statements, business registration….,” Annesha Alleyne, manager of Total Logistics Solution, who spoke on behalf of the owner, said.
“We’re trying to tap in to not only the foreign market but also to the local market whether it’s to help someone trying to fill out a UG [University of Guyana] application or any application,” the manager added. The business’s team of six handles logistics for corporate companies as well affidavits, and passport applications, among other things. The manager noted that all staff members are qualified and have to undergo two weeks of rigorous training.
She shared that since the company announced its wait-in-line service on social media, many people discovered the business. People also enquired in the comments section of the post about whether the wait-in-line service included other places, including hospitals, Western Union and KFC. Annesha Alleyne said that since the mention of the popular chicken franchise, it is being considered though no one has hired a wait in line at KFC.
Business, she said, has been thriving from the get go. Looking back, she said the biggest worry before launching, which could still affect the business today is if there is another countrywide lockdown as a result of the pandemic. With the investment made to get the business started, another lockdown could be detrimental.
Another worry at the launching was competitors. The manager explained that while there is only a handful of logistics companies in Guyana, the fact that Total Logistics started with a “bang”, brought the worry about other similar businesses starting up. But now, asked about competitors, Annesha Alleyne confidently said, “…they should be worried about us.” Asked what made her so sure, the woman, who worked with a law firm in the past and knew the mistakes her previous boss made, said she knows how to avoid this and to provide clients with the proper paperwork.
Additionally, two staff members are bilingual. One speaks Spanish and the other, French. However, clients who speak a foreign language mostly visit the office accompanied by a translator. All of Total Logistics Solution employees are also equipped with a translation application on their phones so they can effectively provide services. All of this, she pointed out, is what makes Total Logistics stand out.
“We have more energy,” she boasted. “We have more time on our hands. We are more dynamic. We provide more services and we are not worried about being on the ground. We advertise for you. You don’t have to come to us, we come to you to get your documents signed, we file that, we check up on it, we pick it up and deliver to you. Also, instead of coming to us, you can send us your information via email and we’d come to you for documents that require your signature.”
With only a staff of six, there is a lot for everyone to do. She said part of the reason for this is because they did not expect business to blow up like it did. Owing to the growing success, the company is looking to hire a new employee soon. With GRA and some of the government ministries offering some of their services online, this lessens the workload. The wait-in-line service only attracts a fee for people relying on this service, clients requesting other services do not pay for waiting in line.
Total Logistics Solution is also looking to tap into the-Meet-and-Greet service where a complete package is designed for visitors to Guyana. “If you want to come to Guyana, then we assist you with your documents to come here,” the manager said. “If you’re going to come on an employment visa, we take care of all the work for you. We prepare your documents, file it at the ministry, get that visa ready for you. Then when you touch down here in Guyana, we have two persons waiting for you at the airport. We pick you up, and take you to the hotel of your choice. All of this will be taken care of prior to you getting here. We are reaching out to the hotels to come on board. We already have some hotels on board with us. If you like we can also take you around Georgetown on a short tour to see the historical sites. We’re looking to have tour companies come on board but [moreover], we are looking to expand and have security companies come onboard because when you’re here in Guyana, we don’t want any casualties or anything of that nature.” The manager explained that because of the company’s efficiency, clients often receive their documents the same day they put in their requests. Annesha Alleyne added that a lot of the prices are really low, sometimes even half of what competitors are asking for. As such Total Logistics has been seeing clients return.
The company is located on the third floor of Maraj Building, Charlotte and King streets.
