Jonathan Sims, Core Freight Systems

Past For us the most significant development has been the advent of the computer and its potential networking capability. The logistics supply chain incorporates not only the physical movement of goods and the financial consequences thereof, but the processing and communication of the associated data. Clearly the efficiency of this information flow is a function of the information technology systems in place. In this day and age it is inconceivable that goods would move without the associated data-flow facilitated by computers. Future Collaboration is essential to an efficient supply chain. My wish would be that all the participants would invest in the collaborative effort, without the requirement for an immediate short-term advantage, to optimise the efficiency of the South African leg of any supply chain - and beyond that into our adjacent “spheres of influence”. This effort is required at both the strategic and detailed implementation level, not limited to but certainly including the leveraging of information technology. I believe that there are examples of this already in practice, however there are equally as many opportunities to enhance this. CAPTION Jonathan Sims