Information-hungry clients demand customised IT solutions

WHY GO to the carrier direct when you can work through an agent? The answer is value added services and it's those agents who have embraced the information technology revolution to provide this value added element who will survive into the twentieth century.
That's the view of Kate Casey, information systems executive at Renfreight, where a combination of EDI (electronic data interchange) and Internet applications is providing a host of new services to its information-hungry clients.
We will customise to a great extent to give our clients what they require, whether via EDI or the Internet, says Casey.
A recent example involves the appointment of Renfreight's Port Elizabeth branch to do the clearing and forwarding for a leading motor manufacturer.
The appointment was at pretty short notice, but we managed to set up, test and successfully receive their very first parts and accessories shipment electronically.
In developments like that it's essential that Renfreight's and the customer's IS departments work closely together, which is what happened.
A major development which is close to implementation and likely to affect all clients, is REDS Direct on the Internet.
We currently offer it on a dial-up or permanent link basis, Casey explained.
It enables clients who might want, on an exception basis, to search for and make enquiries on various shipments.
Clearly the Internet version will open it up to a wider client base.
In terms of Renfreight's future IS plans, Casey believes that all big agents will be looking to expand up and down the supply chain in the years ahead.
We will not try to develop systems, ourselves, facilitating all the different elements along the supply chain. We'll leave that to the specialists. But we will make sure that we have very strong links with anyone who offers a specialist service.