New vision takes shape as Spoornet expands into
warehousing and related activities
EIGHTEEN MONTHS since Spoornet announced the dramatic re-engineering of its business process which saw the replacement of regional managers with a new system of corridor managers, c.e. Braam le Roux is confident that the exercise is now beginning to pay handsome dividends.
Spoornet is no longer in the business of providing rail services. We're looking beyond the stacks and providing the customer with a Freight Logistics Solution (FLS), Le Roux told FTW last week.
Spoornet recognised that it had, over the years, lost a lot of traffic because of promises made at origin which could not be delivered because of changed priorities.
Over the past 18 months the organisation has developed a freight reservation and business system which provides a robust interface between marketing and operations.
With the staff and computer back-up now fully in place, the stage is set for logistics control which monitors shipments from the beginning to the end of the journey.
The consignment life cycle starts with production and ends with consumption of a consignment in each phase of the process, Le Roux explains.
For example the consignment life cycle of iron ore begins where it exits the mine, and ends where it enters the foundry or where it is transhipped.
In order to provide the clients with this door-to-door service product, Spoornet has expanded into warehousing, transport which includes long-haul, transhipment and feeder services, inventory carrying cost, freight forwarding, clearing and other stack elements.
All in all Spoornet can now deliver a holistic product levered from freight transport, our core competency, and from rail, our core investment, with the commitment to become major players in supply chain management.
