Breakbulk customers to get integrated IT solution

Transnet is working on introducing the same information technology solutions available for the containerised business to its breakbulk customers in the next few months. According to Mark Wootton, executive manager: IT for Transnet Port Terminals, the introduction of a system that integrates with customers and other stakeholders, manages bulk cargo inventory and plans and monitors operational execution for their bulk handling terminals is on the cards. It will be introduced at the Port of Saldanha Bay within the next six to nine months where it will be piloted before being rolled out at other ports in the country. “The system will be the source of productivity, billing information and management reporting,” he said at the monthly Transport Forum hosted by the Port of Saldanha Bay. “Historically the focus has always been on the container sector and finding solutions to meet their needs. This is possibly now changing with breakbulk and automotive getting its fair share of attention.” The container side of the business has also had its own share of controversy with much upset caused by the introduction of the now infamous Navis system in 2005 at its first site in Durban at Pier 1. “We hope to have less teething problems with the introduction of the new system on the bulk side of the business,” said Wootton. With Navis now also installed on the rail side at City Deep in Johannesburg, Wootton said there was no denying the benefit of an integrated system. “Transnet were pioneers in what was being done and suffered through the transition that will ultimately be beneficial to the entire supply chain.” He said many of the Navis features would be reproduced in the breakbulk system. “Essentially there has been no off-the-shelf package for a system that meets our requirements, so we built a specific system for ourselves that was implemented in Saldanha in 1997 for the first time,” said Wootton. Since then the system has been upgraded several times. With the new system for breakbulk and the automotive sector, Wootton said processes would be even more streamlined with more across-theboard integration resulting in greater operational efficiency. “We hope to have the requirements, analysis and selection process for the new system completed by the end of July, with the actual project execution to start shortly after and completed by no later than the second quarter of 2013.” He said following the successful deployment and stabilisation of the programme it would be implemented at other ports. INSERT Many of the Navis features will be reproduced in the breakbulk system.’ CAPTION Mark Wootton … ‘Requirements for the new system to be complete by the end of July.’