Integrated solutions are key to meeting clients’ requirements

Botswana-based Express Cartage has significantly increased its capacity to handle higher volumes of cargo from South Africa to Botswana while also adopting a faster delivery strategy. “We have improved our clearing process in a relentless pursuit to reduce unnecessary delays,” says the company’s business development manager, Rudi Nagel. “We do believe that our systems are geared to perform best within the environment in which we operate.” When it comes to the express courier industry it is important to never lose sight of the ultimate requirement – a happy customer, says Nagel. “Any company can transport something, but that’s not what we do. We encourage integrated solutions that add value to our customer’s business – and this may include transport services.” Express Cartage specialises in the provision of express cross-border transportation and consolidation of dry goods to the retail, services and industrial market sectors. Nagel says one could almost call it a courier service for retailers’ supplies. “We provide services to customers like Debswana, De Beers, Bolux Milling, Botswana Meat Commission and numerous other enterprises also requiring distribution within Botswana. Our consolidation and warehousing depots are located in Johannesburg and Gaborone.” According to Nagel, the greatest challenge faced remains border crossing. “Limiting unnecessary time spent at the borders is very important. Express crossborder transporters have to be well versed in the disciplines of border procedures and we understand the importance of the revenue services,” he says. “However, you have to ask yourself why on average around 40% of all time and resources are consumed by border procedures and standing time at the borders – and this for experienced transporters doing the right thing. There have been many changes in customs procedures over the past six months and these changes generally have teething problems.” Delays at the border have therefore had a direct impact on the cost of products in Botswana and it is important that we continually focus on reducing time spent at the borders, he says. With the supplies of most retailers in Botswana imported from South Africa, and the cost of this transportation directly impacting the cost of products in Botswana, it is becoming increasingly important to curb costs, he says. “This is a critical element of all retailers’ supply chain strategies going forward, which is evident from the high level of competition and the number of express cross-border transporters in Botswana,” says Nagel. “It is important though that retailers do not neglect reliability as another major factor in supply chain management. The loss of a sale could have far greater impact on revenues than a cheap and nasty rate. I believe retailers’ thinking is becoming more focused on quality and reliability which is encouraging to service providers going the extra mile.”