‘Ascertaining clients’ needs is crucial’

RAY SMUTS
IF THERE is one valuable lesson Adrian Schultz has learnt about the freight logistics business it is to listen and listen again to ascertain what a client’s specific needs are.
The director of Econo Freight in Paarden Island, Cape Town, he says the company aims to first evaluate a client’s needs before coming up with a service to match.
Logistics, to his mind, encompasses the total chain of procuring and moving goods and services in the correct quantity, quality and within a set time frame, from a point of origin to the final destination.
“As essentially an international freight forwarder, Econo Freight focuses on that part of clients’ supply networks that may require improving rather than trying to force a total ‘supply chain solution’ on them.”
He believes the term ‘supply chain solution’ is often too loosely bandied about when all a client may actually require is a “good, old-fashioned” freight management service.
“Specialising in imports and exports air and sea logistics, Econo Freight prefers to leave vital elements such as procurement to the client who knows his/her market and product best.
“There may be elements in clients’ supply chains that perfectly satisfy their needs and we will gladly co-operate with their chosen delivery or collection agents as opposed to trying to replace them if there is no need.
“Aside from then arranging the actual import or export of a shipment, we will also play a co-ordinating role with any other party in the chain as we believe this co-ordination and communication function is the main ingredient in a well-oiled chain of supply.”
Among Econo Freight’s wide range of services, it acts as a central point of co-ordination for multi-supplier shipments prior to exportation for shippers of foodstuffs, building materials, furniture and the like.