Systems help reduce supply chain costs

INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED customers are demanding increasingly sophisticated information technology solutions. Solutions that can accumulate, assimilate and distribute information seamlessly across the supply chain. FTW finds out how service providers are meeting their customers’ exacting demands. Hylton Gray . . . ‘Optimising logistical processes means having constant access to up-to-the-second information.’ logistics major Kuehne & Nagel’s vision is to offerworldwide supply chain management services to customers that gobeyond transport and warehousing, says managing director Hylton Gray. Through integrated information over the entire supply chain, and optimisation based on planning and control capability, the company’s South African operation will contribute to reducing overall costs of customers` supply chains, he says. KN has realised this vision through various electronic media, internet tracking and tracing, order management systems and satellite networks. “In the African region a VSAT network has been installed and configured for the KN offices in Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, with Kenya and Angola following shortly. A data processing unit installed at the remote site is the interface between the remote KN premises’ equipment and the satellite network. “The VSAT network is reliable and allows us to run the KN standard software on a centralised mainframe based in Johannesburg. KN can therefore offer its customers a seamless communication line with all its African offices. “Optimising logistical processes means having constant access to up-to-the-second information. Developments like the KN Login track and trace system allow you to use your standard browser via normal internet access to call up tracking and tracing information worldwide. “Features include detailed shipment information for proactive shipment monitoring, document imaging and downloads of the documents into the customer’s computer. Solutions serve customers in a wide variety of business applications, everything from contract manufacturing to complete global order and supplier management.”