‘IT now more crucial than ever’

KEVIN MAYHEW
THE IMPORTANCE of computer-based communications in the logistics chain and the successful movement of freight is now acknowledged, which is why companies should carefully consider their choice of software and service provider.
Roger Shaw, managing director of specialist software provider to the freight forwarding industry, Clearing Support Services, says the software support industry catering for the freight sector has, like other areas of IT, been hit by the high prices of software and cost of servicing experienced in 2001 and 2002.
“The companies that could weather the storm were the ones with a long history in the business and consequent sustainability. Companies that used IT individuals and companies without a strong history, found themselves at sea in a critical element of their business as people and smaller support companies crashed when the dotcom bubble burst,” he explained.
In the current stronger rand environment, the IT element in the supply chain has become even more critical to companies’ efforts to improve efficiencies. It is not an area of business to be ignored and imperilled for short term gain, he added.
To service its client base, Clearing Support Services has offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and an agent in Namibia.