New opportunities for exporters and importers are being opened up through a data-driven approach to logistics, according to Lance Petersen, branch manager of Tigers Global Logistics in Port Elizabeth.
The South Africa office of the Hong Kong-headquartered supply chain specialist also houses a part of the group’s ‘IT Competency and Customer Service’ set up which helps keep freight moving around the world.
“The movement of freight has become IT-driven,” he says. Having the IT support helps agents to get much closer to clients, and to help identify new markets or routes to market. “Within the group we are particularly strong in the outdoor market and in fresh produce. In both markets we can help open doors.
“Here in the Eastern Cape I see export potential for fresh produce outside of the traditional citrus and cut flowers,” he says. The systems also allow Tigers to offer the same level of intelligence to small and large clients. “
We help clients to enter into new markets by providing a full logistics and fulfilment service from warehouses around the world,” he says. Having products stored in the country where they are being marketed is important as online buyers do not expect to have to wait for goods.
Tigers’ IT systems enable the company to provide third-party logistics services such as storage, picking, packing, despatch and delivery.
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Information-driven logistics is helping smaller companies to get into markets that were previously closed to them. – Lance Petersen
