New port system goes live in April – prepare now says TNPA

Port users need to prepare
now for the imminent
closure of the PortsOnline
system which will be
replaced in April with the
new Cash-to-Order system.
That was the message
from Transnet National
Ports Authority (TNPA) to
industry at the first meeting
of the year of the Exporters’
Club Western Cape.
TNPA’s project manager
for Cash-to-Order, Tinyiko
Mabasa, told delegates it
was imperative that port
users ensure readiness as
the new system would not
be introduced in a phased
approach.
“PortsOnline will
completely cease to exist on
the day that Cash-to-Order
goes live in April,” he said.
A final date for this will
be communicated closer to
the time. In the interim a
roadshow is being planned
for February and March
across the country to
explain the new system and
the necessary registration
process to access it.
The roadshow will also
encompass a training
element said Mabasa.
“It is extremely important
that industry engages with
this process and that they
are registered because the
entire process of submitting
cargo documentation will
now be an online function,”
she explained.
Whilst PortsOnline
has allowed port
users to submit cargo
documentation such
as cargo dues, orders,
manifests and reports
online, the facility to do so
manually was also available.
This will no longer be the
case with Cash-to-Order.
“These processes will
from April only be done
electronically,” said Mabasa,
explaining that TNPA
was already processing
a significant volume of
paperwork online.
“The manual capturing
process has been reduced
quite extensively but it
has to date still been an
option. This will change
when we launch the new
programme.”
He said PortsOnline had
played an important role in
moving the port authority
to the electronic age, but it
resided in old software and
archaic technology.
“We needed to align
it with the Transnet
architectural landscape but
found that the system was
problematic and needed
to meet new technology
needs in line with customer
requirements.”
He said the new system
would improve the cost of
doing business with TNPA
by providing customers with
an e-commerce platform
and seamless functionality.
“Users will be able to
request quotations, submit
cargo dues, download
statements and invoices and
even be able to access their
credit limit.”
According to Mabasa,
the system will ultimately
provide a visible customer
experience with far more
control than is currently the
case.
“There are numerous
benefits to the new
programme – including
reduced time, reduced costs
and improved interaction
with TNPA across various
channels,” he said. “We
believe this sytem will
allow customers and TNPA
to plan, document and
communicate with each
other far more effectively
while also addressing
and resolving queries and
problems more effectively.
It will bring about reduced
paper work and quicker
turnaround times in the long
run.”
Mabasa said the project,
which started in May last
year, was now in its final
stages – with testing of the
system currently under way.
“At this stage everything is
on track to go live in April,”
he said.