Companies moving away from siloed platforms

South Africa’s logistics sector is undergoing a quiet change as e-commerce surges and delivery pressures intensify, with local innovators replacing paper-heavy processes with digital systems that connect the region’s supply chains. According to Christo de Swardt, commercial manager at Forte Supply Chain Solutions, there has been a noticeable shift toward smarter and more connected operations. “Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics are helping us forecast demand and optimise routes more accurately, which directly improves delivery reliability,” he said. “Real-time visibility is another big one because clients expect live updates, and Internet of Things (IoT) tools are making that possible across the supply chain.” Building on this drive for real-time visibility, companies are also rethinking how their systems work together. “System integration is key, with the sector moving away from siloed platforms toward seamless data flow. That shift has had a major impact on speed and accuracy,” he told Freight News. Automation is also playing a critical role, with digital onboarding and smart forms to workflow tools reducing manual tasks and freeing up teams to focus on higher- value work.” This drive for real-time visibility is felt across the sector. Michael Henning, general manager at Easy Clear, said that the growth of the digital marketplace was creating unprecedented shipment volumes. “Access to the internet and social media has given consumers on-demand access to brands, while retailers can extend their reach far beyond physical stores. This places incredible pressure on the supply chain as delivery timeframes are increasingly compressed. Customer service now depends on constant digital updates of shipments and improved visibility, all while striving to meet shipper- confirmed delivery windows that carry performance penalties if exceeded.” Seamless integration is crucial for handling these pressures, said Wichard Sullwald, co-founder of product at CtrlFleet. “We’ve seen a real demand for platforms that can accommodate complex operations, things like cross-docking, load consolidation and dynamic routing based on real-time events,” he said. “One of our most significant recent developments is a risk and compliance management workflow that dynamically prompts team members to review and approve tasks assigned to vehicles based on a self-configured risk matrix. It’s all about giving operations teams the tools to react faster when exceptions occur.” Sullwald said the push for transparency – such as live ETA updates and forward-looking views of planned operations – was forcing logistics companies to digitise. “This reduces manual data capturing and lets teams respond to incidents like delays or route deviations in minutes rather than hours or days as was common a few years ago.” According to De Swardt, South Africa’s logistics sector is advancing quickly, but infrastructure gaps still slow down adoption compared to global benchmarks. LV