South African logistics companies are investing increasingly in technology as the benefits of improved safety, reduced costs and streamlined operations are realised.According to Arend du Preez, CEO of Crossroads Distribution, the company has come a long way since its humble beginnings, more than 80 years ago, in the small town of Springbok in the Northern Cape. Nowadays, it’s a streamlined and sophisticated operation.That’s because as companies like Crossroads Distribution start using a variety of geotagging technologies and robotic process automation in their day-to-day operations, trucking is becoming far safer and more efficient.“The challenge, however, is not whether we can participate in the use of technology, but to convince employees that the industry has changed and that our business should be driven by information technology,” says Du Preez. “Trucking, to a certain extent, is still very much a manual process. Those who can make the switch to technology will be the market leaders in f uture.”Technology offers better control over the end-to-end supply chain, assisting supply chain managers with issues such as forecasting for the measurement of key performance indicators and, ultimately, safety. In-cab cameras and technology that measures harsh braking, cornering and other safety-related issues are making real contributions to safety standards. The use of technology by original equipment manufacturers has also advanced: ways to measure fatigue and, in certain trucks, abilities such as lane-assist, assisted braking and in-cab breathalyser testing, have become the norm. It’s all part of upping the logistics game.According to Warren Charles, IT manager at Crossroads Distribution, the adoption of technology has become more critical to ensuring the successful operation and management of companies in the transportation sector, particularly since the sector has come under pressure from rising costs driven by third party factors such as the current surge in oil prices.“Whilst most companies ramped up their adoption of technology during Covid-19, Crossroads had already begun adopting new technologies before then to change how the business uses and consumes data,” he says. “A lean, efficient company bringing shareholder value is enabled through the use of technolog y.”According to Charles, there is a limitation to the devices that can be presented to a driver in the cab. Safety, he says, is the most important factor. “The use of mobile technologies as per our safety policies has enabled us to streamline communication to customers about proof of delivery documentation as well as key compliance factors. The use of mobile technologies is increasing as we move from paper to digital in the cab.”The company is also deploying technology that monitors key events on its trailers, enabling it to monitor and ensure high levels of compliance for customers’ key commodities.Deploying digital solutions, however, is not without its challenges. “The lack of a consistent GSM signal across southern Africa is a problem as GSM is a key requirement for the implementation of technology in transport operations,” says Charles. “Also, the high cost of data, linked to inconsistent service, hampers the rapid adoption of technology. Whilst the rush to provide fibre to the home has yielded benefits for many people, these solutions offer no value when it comes to operating a diverse transport company. The persistent power issues that affect the mobile towers don’t help matters either.
