Technology
provides “huge
opportunities”
for enhancing the
South African supply chain,
although the challenge is
obtaining uptake by users,
co-operation by the various
players across the chain
and the sharing of data,
says CoreFreight managing
director, Jonathan Sims.
“Certain participants
represent greater
opportunities to leverage
improvement than
others, and they need to
acknowledge and fulfil their
responsibility in this regard.
The use of IT can certainly
support this, but not without
the initial commitment
to co-operation to find a
solution,” he comments.
Sims highlights a recent
example where this was
illustrated: “One of the
Sars release agents does
not process transactions
in accordance with
the ‘paperless release’
procedures prescribed by
Sars, causing unnecessary
delay and inconvenience
for the forwarding
industry. Although
there are existing easily
implemented solutions
available that would address
this problem, we have not
yet managed to identify a
representative with whom
the issue can be discussed,
so all the technology is
irrelevant at this point.”
On the other side of the
coin, notes Sims, the Sars
modernisation programme
represents a positive
example of commitment
to co-operation between
Sars and service providers.
“Despite some individual
concerns, collaboration was
a prerequisite to the recent
successful implementation of
the Interfront application,”
he says.
He says it would be naïve
to think that the electronic
sphere alone would make
a major difference to the
supply chain without
recognising the impact of
factors such as congestion
at the ports and land border
posts, transportation
networks, or even the impact
of foreign exchange rates on
input costs. But companies
can gain a competitive edge
through the intelligent use
of IT.
“We do not believe that
a single application or
service provider can offer
optimum functionality
along every link of the
supply chain. We therefore
actively participate in
those areas where we see
an opportunity and have
appropriate experience."
INSERT & CAPTION
The electronic
sphere alone cannot
make a major
difference to the
supply chain.
– Jonathan Sims
