High-tech solutions the order of the day

Fast throughput can justify cost ALAN PEAT WAREHOUSING HAS been part of a whole restructuring of the corporate business world in South Africa, according to Peter Broli, CEO of Broli International. “Everybody has now gone back to concentrating on their core business,” said Broli, “and warehousing is not part of that, so outsourcing is the answer.” “Freight forwarders used to receive and unpack containers, and deliver goods to customers’ warehouses.” But now the scene is that forwarders must offer top-class warehousing solutions as part of their overall logistics solutions package of products. But with warehousing becoming more and more high-tech in its operational and administrative functions the cost of this function has become very expensive, and forwarders have to be very selective in just how far they take the high-tech development. “But I do believe that, the busier the logistics industry becomes, the more room there will be for these high-tech systems,” said Broli. The skill of the moment is to have a company’s warehousing function closely aligned to the selective business it generates, and to be able to justify the cost by fast throughput. “Our warehousing, for example, is a 1 400m2 facility,” said Broli, “where we offer a full pick-and-pack operation – and use it for small quantity local distribution, especially veterinary medicines at the moment. “We are looking at the full pick-and-pack and distribution function for veterinary companies – distributing the products within a 200-kilometre radius from our Jet Park warehouse.”