‘Offering a whole new way of doing business’
LOCAL SOFTWARE company Kuepper International has edged out international competition to win a contract from a UK franchise for its Winfreight logistics software.
“The R1 million contract for the 5ways Express courier franchise was won against stiff opposition from UK software vendors,” says Kuepper MD Mike Shraga. “Unlike the competition, Winfreight offered 5ways Express a whole new way of doing business within a single system.”
Shraga says the differentiator for the Winfreight suite of logistics software is the supply chain visibility it provides. “Winfreight’s state-of-the-art software tracking system makes it possible to see exactly where in the supply chain the parcel, or whatever is being tracked, can be found. “
The Winfreight “Virtual Warehouse” system linked to BMW’s main transporter in Rosslyn provides a good example.
“The concept is as simple as it is complex,” says Shraga. “The supplier needs to know the customer’s forecast and vice versa, so BMW issues all its requirements to a web site, the suppliers see what is needed and send a request for transport which is relayed via BMW’s buyers. This ensures that everybody in the supply chain at any one time knows what is happening and can take proactive management action.”
Shraga developed and deployed the original DOS- and Clipper-based freight tracking system locally and in the UK, and ran the company for 12 years before being joined by his son, Nick, three years ago.
“Nick, who does all our programming now, discovered the enormous potential of the UK market during a visit last year and made contact with 5ways Express,” says Shraga. “A deal was closed to replace all existing systems.”
Shraga says they took the existing Winfreight system and rewrote the code on-site to customise it to the client’s requirements. “Having completed the hub installation successfully, we will soon begin installing at the group’s franchise offices.”
The latest version of the Winfreight software is to be launched in the UK at the beginning of next month. Shraga says he then plans to take the product to the rest of Europe and Australia.
