Southern Africa’s logistics sector continues to grapple with infrastructure bottlenecks, congested ports, regulatory inconsistencies and rising costs, yet positive shifts are beginning to emerge.
“While the challenges are significant – from outdated infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles to the urgent need for technological modernisation – encouragingly, we are starting to see government entities, the private sector and ports embracing advanced technologies on key corridors. This is already translating into greater efficiency and driving growth across the region,” said Rui Rodrigues, sales and business development manager at OCL Group.
Several key trends are now shaping the region’s logistics landscape. “We are seeing a growing adoption of digital technologies and automation as well as increased focus on supply chain resilience,” said Rodrigues. “The integration of AI and data analytics to optimise operations is also on the rise. Furthermore, there has been a definite increase in public-private partnerships to enhance infrastructure and efficiency.”
According to Rodrigues, OCL has been focused on developing advanced IT systems that seamlessly integrate with customer and port platforms to provide a comprehensive, 24/7 view of trade activities. “The goal is to make trade simple. Our system will be tailored to meet individual client needs, streamlining operations from loading to shipping and reducing human interaction. Long term, we will incorporate AI solutions to further improve operational efficiency, service quality and decision-making.”
He said the local logistics landscape was evolving in line with international trends, with increasing adoption of digitalisation, automation and data-driven supply chain management. “While we are making strides in modernisation and sustainability efforts, southern Africa does still lag behind some global leaders in terms of efficiency, integrated technology and infrastructure development.”
- Read the full article in our Freight Features edition on ‘Logistics’.
