'Forwarders need to reinvent themselves'

South Africa’s freight forwarders must take a more active role in the entire supply chain rather than limiting themselves to the traditional narrow role they have fulfilled in the past. According to Mike Walwyn, vice chairman of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff), it is only when forwarders are involved in every aspect of the supply chain that they are able to achieve the ultimate goal – expediting the delivery of cargo at the least cost in the shortest amount of time. Walwyn told FTW recently that in an industry based on reducing cost and time, it was no longer just about the roles of export forwarding and import clearing activities. “At Saaff it is our firm belief that forwarders need to involve themselves in all aspects of the supply chain – be it with ports, airports, Customs, carriers or regulators. We must offer a full spectrum of supply chain solutions using our bulk buying power – and that can only be done if one has an overall view of the entire chain. If you develop enough tonnage, you can offer what a client can’t buy for himself.” Walwyn said there was still a perceived lack of coordination between departments involved in port activities from a forwarder’s point of view. “We believe there needs to be more private public partnerships at our ports as that will ultimately benefit the supply chain. It is about productivity and skills development bringing about an efficient South African supply chain.” He said port costs and pricing remained another concern for forwarders, which was why Saaff engaged with the port regulator about tariff increases every year. “At the same time we also need a stable environment to attract business and facilitate planning,” said Walwyn. “It really comes down to better coordination between the various roleplayers in the supply chain. And also the realisation that the supply chain does not exist in a silo, we all need to work together.” INSERT ‘Still a perceived lack of coordination between departments involved in port activities.’ CAPTION Mike Walwyn … ‘If you develop enough tonnage, you can offer what a client can’t buy for himself.’