'E-commerce reshaping the world of logistics'

E-commerce is more than just the buzzword of our time. It is reshaping the world of logistics and forcing logistics providers to step up, says Detlev Duve, managing director of Dachser South Africa. “E-commerce entrepreneurs require a logistics partner that understands this new dimension of logistics and can provide end-toend services.” From the moment an online order is placed to the moment it is picked, packed and shipped, every step in the process must be handled efficiently, consistently, and cost-effectively. “Evolved logistics partners provide solid warehousing infrastructure and value-added services that enable e-commerce businesses to outsource this entire process,” says Duve. He believes value-added services are essential to end-to-end fulfilment services. “Value-added services include the quality control of goods at the time of pickup at the supplier’s warehouse, product finishing tasks, sleeving (foliation) or re-packaging into new cartons. Evolved logistics companies can perform all necessary tasks,” he says. It is with all this in mind that Dachser South Africa has looked at its own systems, taking into account how e-commerce is driving changes in customer needs and in the industry. Says Duve: “We’ve taken our full logistics centre up a notch. As a logistics partner, we can effectively use our warehousing capacity to the fullest through flexible consolidation of multiple customers’ goods in our multi-user warehouses. With a customised warehouse and process design that takes picking techniques and disbursement strategies into consideration, we create maximum profitability for each of our partners.” INSERT & CAPTION Logistics partner employees act as a local extension of your business. – Detlev Duve