In EIT and data interchange, we are substantially behind the rest of the First World, according to Peter Meihuizen.
This, he said, is mainly due to the non-performance of the Department of Customs & Excise - now part of the SA Revenue Service (SARS). Every effort will have to be made by all parties to ensure that this technological gap is reduced as fast as possible. The introduction of full electronic data interchange (EDI) will herald a brave new world for the forwarding industry, added Meihuizen. The speed of documentary customs clearance will finally enter the space age, he said, resulting in dramatically reduced clearance times. This will have a major effect on the general operations of the forwarding company. Paperwork will (should) decrease substantially, and companies should be able to operate a far tighter ship. This will inevitably lead to a smaller, more-efficient staff complement. While many might see the introduction of EDI as a threat, the way Meihuizen views it is that the more creative in the industry should see the situation offering scope for a variety of new value-added services.
