Investment critical to stay ahead of the game

Automated data sharing between logistics partners is moving from concept to implementation, with Easy Clear piloting a system that enables the controlled exchange of warehouse entry data across its digital ecosystem. According to Michael Henning, general manager at Easy Clear, the company is currently developing and testing the controlled and automated sharing of data for warehouse entries between parties operating within its ecosystem. “We have already proven the concept through a manual create-and-push process, where clearance data is shared between parties to generate road freight manifests,” he said. “This reduced repetitive data capture, improved accuracy and regulatory compliance, and enhanced efficiency in the transit process for cargo imported into Lesotho.” Following the successful adoption of the manual process by clients, the system is now being transitioned to a fully automated model, underpinned by appropriate controls and contractual agreements between parties. Henning said ongoing investment in technology remained critical as systems quickly became obsolete, with the company’s development team focused on solving complex data challenges. “Digital innovation is key to optimisation and automation, unlocking efficiencies that improve productivity and enable businesses to become leaner and more responsive, particularly through greater visibility across the supply chain,” he said. He added that Easy Clear had recently completed a data improvement project across its platform, introducing new modules, including purchase order management and shipment management, with milestone tracking and a mobile application for real-time, data-driven insights. “Data shared with third parties or within the Easy Clear ecosystem is visible across the system and can be managed from a central ‘masterfile’, allowing users to track shipments across each stage of the process,” he said. “Our quality control functionality also enables the controlled approval of shipments and submission for customs clearance, reducing the risk of errors and improving regulatory compliance.” He said the ability to share data across the company’s ecosystem was a natural evolution, while integration with third parties to reduce duplicate data capture and improve real- time visibility was a logical next step in making businesses more responsive and competitive. “There is considerably less paperwork and less data capture, while at the same time introducing tighter control and improved visibility,” he said. “The introduction of mobile applications is expected to provide the end-user with more visibility of the shipment, in this case, the consignee, while also adding value to agents and transporters in the supply chain, as communication and decision-making can be handled more efficiently. “Business owners are also able to get real-time visibility of their disbursements at any time, without the need to open a report or dashboard.” Henning said the technology was not limited to specific ports or corridors, with some enhancements already deployed across the platform and others currently being tested in pilot phases ahead of a broader rollout. Warehouse and bond store functionality, including real- time linking of removals and receipting of goods into bonded facilities, is expected to deliver particular value for operators handling transit cargo through South Africa. He said further investment had been made in cloud infrastructure to strengthen data security and system reliability, including upgrades to hosted servers and the introduction of additional firewall capacity to support high availability within the SaaS environment. LV