‘Logistics is about information flow’

The efficiency of a logistics operation is as much a function of the information systems in place as the physical assets employed,” says Glenn Lawson of Core Freight Systems. “While these systems do not replace the essential requirement to actually transport the product, they are integral to the process,” he added. And while the African environment is not yet as advanced as the developed world, he believes there is an increasing interest in implementing systems that facilitate modern logistics practice – and it is important to consider what is appropriate for operators in the region. “Given the sophistication inherent in the applications available we believe that it is naïve to assume that a single software service provider will provide optimal functionality across the diverse requirements in the logistics chain,” he says. In his view there are two key elements to the selection of effective logistics software. “Firstly there is the question of suitability to meet the specific internal functional requirements of the individual operator organisation. For example, this may be to provide centralised record-keeping or to ensure adequate recording of financial data. “Secondly is the ability to interface with other packages in order to optimise the data-flow between the different systems employed in the logistics supply chain. An example of this may be to output a landed costing for integration into a stock control application.” There’s also the issue of the “Costto- Functionality” ratio to consider. “Unfortunately there are costs associated with the development and maintenance of quality software systems, and these will be recovered through charges to users. As with all rational business decisions it is therefore vital to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs – and this is particularly pertinent in evaluating alternative solutions where a structured evaluation process may be necessary to assist in reaching a conclusion,” he added. An incontrovertible conclusion, however, is the fact that the ability to compete in modern logistics requires appropriate information technology, and Africa is no different from the rest of the world in this respect, he said. INSERT & CAPTION The ability to interface with other packages in order to optimise the dataflow between the different systems employed in the logistics supply chain is a key consideration. – Glenn Lawson