Data sharing logistics platform in the pipeline

Plans are afoot to create a
provincial transport data
warehouse offering, amongst
others, an integrated
data sharing platform for
transport and logistics
operators and government.
“Logistics is of great
importance for the Gauteng
region with significant
freight volumes destined
for our province that
originate from our ports
and other provinces,” said
Gauteng MEC for Roads and
Transport, Ismail Vadi.
As the nexus where
multiple transport corridors
intersect, he believes
Gauteng logistics roleplayers
should expand their efforts to
facilitate smarter solutions.
“This includes partnerships
between the public and
private sector, specifically in
data sharing,” he said.
Vadi pointed out that his
department was working
closely with its eGovernment
partners on
introducing
new IT
platforms
to facilitate
improved
relationships
and improve
efficiencies
in its services
to transport
and logistics
operators.
“These are
part of the building blocks to
make Gauteng a connected
province.”
He said that government
and private sector
stakeholders needed to
overcome self-imposed
institutional silos and data
fragmentation as well as
insufficient knowledge
sharing.
“The provincial
government
– as part of
its 25-year
Integrated
Transport
Master Plan
(ITMP25)
– has taken
responsibility
for managing
freight
movement,
public and
private
transport, as an inter-related
system. It has recognised
the need for institutional
cooperation – but we also
need to consider the needs
of the transporters in our
planning,” he said.
“Providing integrated data
can assist freight companies
to better plan their trips
through the logistics hubs
and terminals that are
available.”
Vadi pointed to the
fact that China was
currently investing around
US$550 million per year
in Intelligent Transport
Systems to improve
transport management in
Shanghai, noting that their
success had prompted the
transport department to
investigate ways of providing
improved data to all
stakeholders.
“Using the data provided
by the integrated system,
logistics operators have
been able to pinpoint prime
delivery periods to avoid
traffic congestion and
inevitable delays,” he said.
INSERT AND CAPTION
Providing integrated
data can assist freight
companies to better
plan their trips.
– Ismail Vadi