Fledgling agency takes targeted approach

SMALL IS better, especially when it comes to fully comprehending what the customer is all about, says Rudi Opperman, operations director of fledgling clearing and forwarding agency, Aviumkhumbi Cape. Launched last year with premises in Montague Gardens outside Cape Town, Opperman, who spent several years with a logistics major, says the current aim is to grow the customer base in the Western Cape but not become so big that the ability to retain a personal touch with customers is lost. “I think what has been missing to a large degree in clearing and forwarding is fully understanding the nature of a customer’s business and being able to effectively communicate those specific requirements to all operational, sales and admin staff internally. “In reality, the bigger companies often become so segmented internally that they lose this ability and the customer suffers at the end of the day. This is where Aviumkhumbi’s strength will lie – a clear focus on customers. “You can have the greatest IT system in the world but what counts at the end of the day is the relationship between a company and its customers and how situations are handled and communicated when they go wrong, or even right.” Only on the go since last September, the emphasis has been on taking on the right staff, five for now, including import manager, Jenny Sheasby and export manager, Fanie Viljoen, and setting up the necessary systems. As things now stand, Aviumkhumbi’s seafreight/ airfreight ratio is around 70-30 and imports/exports 60-40. The major focus is on exporting wine, Far East imports and growing business in Africa. With access to a global network that can service the requirements of customers internationally, Aviumkhumbi Cape offers the full range of supply chain services not only in Cape Town but also in Johannesburg and Durban.