As Türkiye’s e-export targets grow, the logistics sector is also moving beyond being a structure that only provides transportation services and is becoming one of the strategic enablers of global trade. Especially in a period when cross-border e-commerce is developing rapidly, logistics models that facilitate businesses’ access to new markets, digitalize operations, and integrate international networks are gaining great importance. In this transformation, technology, data, and regional structures are among the key elements that determine the competitiveness of logistics companies.
Aras Global stands out with its vision of turning Türkiye into a regional e-export and logistics center. Strengthening its regional network with its operational structures in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, the company aims to facilitate SMEs’ access to global markets through the digital platforms it has developed and artificial intelligence-supported infrastructures. Today, with its ecosystem providing access to more than 120 countries, Aras Global positions logistics not only as an operational process, but also as a strategic platform that supports export growth.
Aras Kargo Vice President of Sales, Strategy and International Affairs and Aras Global General Manager Ramazan Altınay told WORLDEF E-COMMERCE about the contribution of operations in Central Asia and the CIS region to Türkiye’s e-export ecosystem, the role of artificial intelligence and digitalization in logistics, regional growth strategies, and Aras Global’s international vision.
How do Aras Global’s operations in Central Asia and the CIS region contribute to your integrated logistics network extending from Türkiye to the world?
As Aras Global, our main goal is to become a strong local player that ensures sustainable growth in every market where we operate, while transforming Türkiye into a regional e-export and logistics hub. Türkiye’s position as a strategic bridge between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia offers significant opportunities in terms of production, e-export, and logistics. We transform this geographical advantage into concrete value through strong operational infrastructure and local structures.
Today, by completing our trademark registrations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, we have established a reliable and permanent brand structure in these markets. In Georgia, with 17 branches and 1 main warehouse, we manage approximately 10,000 shipments per day with a 97 percent home delivery rate. Our Starex brand, operating in Azerbaijan, provides service with 22 branches and 84 tradesperson delivery points. By acquiring all of Starex, we further strengthened our presence in the country, while doubling our operational capacity with the sorter investment we made. In Uzbekistan, we continue our investments to bring our structure to full-capacity operation level.
These structures not only support our regional growth, but also create a strong and integrated international access network for exporters in Türkiye. The Aras Global Platform, which we launched in line with this vision, brings logistics partners, e-commerce companies, and operational processes together under a single digital roof, offering end-to-end integrated shipment management.
Today, approximately 4,000 SMEs on our platform can manage all stages, from customs processes to delivery operations, from a single center, while thanks to our infrastructure, they can send shipments to 120 countries quickly and reliably. Thus, while facilitating the access of businesses in Türkiye to global markets, we also contribute to the sustainable growth of e-export.
How do artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure increase Aras Global’s operational efficiency?
One of Aras Global’s most important competitive advantages is that it approaches technology not only as a supporting element, but as a strategic force at the center of our business model. Instead of procuring our technology infrastructure from external sources, we develop it in-house; we manage our IT processes in all countries in an integrated way through our central technology infrastructure in Azerbaijan. Thanks to this structure, we can manage our operations in different geographies within a single digital ecosystem by providing operational standardization, speed, scalability, and cost advantage at the same time.
We integrate artificial intelligence technologies into every layer of the operation, from route optimization to customs processes, from operational planning to delivery management. One of the most concrete examples of this in the field is the high-volume operations we carry out with global e-commerce players in Georgia. Our ability to manage approximately 10,000 shipments per day with 97 percent delivery success is a result of artificial intelligence-supported dynamic planning, real-time data analysis, and our strong operational infrastructure.
On the other hand, thanks to the digital platforms developed by Aras Digital, we also make SMEs’ e-export processes more accessible and manageable. Sellers can manage many processes, from the customs requirements of target countries to the most efficient delivery routes, from cost optimization to operational tracking, through a single platform. Thus, technology goes beyond being a tool that only provides operational efficiency; it transforms into a strategic growth infrastructure that facilitates SMEs’ access to global markets.
Could you provide information about your operations in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan?
Georgia is positioned as one of Aras Global’s strongest operational centers in the region. With our operational network consisting of 17 branches and 1 main warehouse, we manage approximately 10,000 shipments per day with 97 percent home delivery success. The operational collaborations we have developed with global e-commerce platforms demonstrate the scalability, speed, and service quality of the infrastructure we have.
In Azerbaijan, we shape our growth strategy through strong local structures. With the 100 percent acquisition of the Starex brand, we further strengthened the existing operational structure and made our presence in the country permanent. Today, with 22 branches and 84 tradesperson delivery points, we have one of Azerbaijan’s widespread logistics networks. Thanks to the sorter investment we implemented, while doubling our operational capacity, we also achieved significant gains in speed, accuracy, and service efficiency.
In Uzbekistan, we continue our structuring and operational scaling process with a strategic perspective. In line with the growing middle class in the region, the rapidly developing e-commerce ecosystem, and increasing logistics needs, we believe that Uzbekistan will become a critical center for our regional operations in the coming period. We foresee that the infrastructure and technology investment-focused steps we are taking today will carry us to a stronger and more sustainable position in the market in the future.
What are Aras Global’s regional growth targets and international market expansion strategy in the coming years?
As Aras Global, we build our growth strategy on two main axes: increasing operational depth in existing markets and entering new markets with strategic investments. We see that the need of Turkish exporters for reliable, fast, and integrated logistics solutions is gradually increasing, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. In this direction, while strengthening our operational presence and infrastructure investments in the region, we also closely monitor Middle Eastern markets in line with changing regional dynamics.
SMEs are at the center of our growth vision. We aim to further grow our digital logistics ecosystem, which connects approximately 4,000 SMEs on our platform to more than 120 countries today. Because we believe that facilitating the access of small and medium-sized enterprises to global markets is critical for Türkiye’s e-export potential to develop sustainably.
For us, growth does not only mean opening up to new markets or increasing operational capacity; it means being able to create long-term value on the basis of technology, efficiency, and sustainability. As Aras Global, by combining our regional strength with our digital infrastructure, we aim to create a permanent growth ecosystem for both our customers and business partners.
