Logistics operators will need to come up with creative ways to remain competitive in an increasingly expensive local market, says Easyclear general manager Michael Henning. And they’ll need to leverage technology to take advantage of the opportunities for growth. “Challenges facing agents in southern Africa have not changed much – infrastructure, the high cost of logistics and a shortage of skilled staff,” says Henning. “Government has pledged millions to address ailing infrastructure – but given the current economic crunch it is becoming more difficult to keep up with this commitment and it may fall to the private sector to fill the gap where government falls short. The volatility of the currency and high fuel prices also add considerably to the high cost of logistics in South Africa.” In terms of the skills shortage, it’s not a local phenomenon, says Henning. “More and more international freight forwarders are finding it difficult to find staff with the skills needed for a modern logistics operation. This can be addressed through skills development and training, as well as upskilling existing resources.” Technology however is at the heart of the radical change in the logistics landscape. “Drone technology and autonomous vehicles are exciting technology that is being tested on the continent and overseas. The digitisation of warehouses also has some farreaching implications for southern Africa. “Easyclear provides solutions that can be tailored to suit clients’ specific needs and integrated with third party software solutions to provide seamless integration of relevant data for a comprehensive view of the supply chain at your fingertips,” says Henning. The company will be piloting a webbased version of its software with several clients in the next few months and plans to roll it out to its entire client base in a phased approach. “The new product will allow clients to access the software from anywhere in the world from any device with an internet connection, essentially placing your business right at your fingertips 24/7, 365.”
The new product will allow clients to access the software from anywhere in the world from any device with an internet connection. – Michael Henning
