Cross-border etailing on the move

Etailing is increasingly catching on across South Africa’s borders and the logistics industry needs to adapt to ensure a seamless supply chain across borders and across channels. Jasen Smallbone, country sales manager: small package and freight forwarding at UPS South Africa, said that working across borders can seem daunting, but if structured correctly, the national distribution model can be applied to the regional one. “At UPS we have been working to ensure that fulfilling online orders is as fluid and efficient across borders as it would be across town.” He told FTW that an online supply chain needed to be fast, easy and reliable. “If a supplier can turn deliveries around quickly, he will retain a competitive advantage,” said Smallbone. He noted online tools could be leveraged to create a seamless and efficient supply chain and enabled export customers to give their clients peace of mind. “Customers demand more choice, more convenience and more transparency than ever and as logistics providers we are all too aware that our customers’ reputations often rest on our shoulders,” said Smallbone. Some of the electronic tools include full shipment tracking and visibility, SMS or email notifications and automated reminders. “UPS is investing in new solutions that address the businessto- consumer (B2C) delivery model which will facilitate easy and reliable returns – a fundamental aspect of the online shopping experience,” noted Smallbone. Paul Stone, vice-president of transport for DHL Supply Chain, Middle East and Africa, said that the challenge for logistics providers was to match the immediate nature of online shopping and the customer expectation to the reality of a delivery in under 24 hours. “Logistics providers need to have a flexible distribution solution that can respond to an escalated demand.”