Spotlight On: Cheaper is Not Always Better
Spotlight On: Cheaper is Not Always Better You’ve probably heard of the saying “cheaper is not always better” at least once in your lifetime. Well, this is true when it comes to logistics too! In this blog post we’re putting the spotlight on WHY cheaper isn’t always better, and how you can make sure you […]
Acid blaze engulfs ship in ‘preventable disaster’
Acid blaze engulfs ship in ‘preventable disaster’ The X-Press Pearl’s owners say the unfolding disaster off the coast of Sri Lanka could’ve been avoided. Source: Sri Lanka Ports Authority In one of the worst shipping disasters of the year, an unknown number of crew members and 12 firefighters were evacuated from a brand new 2 […]
Note To C-Level Executives: Get Serious, Or Get Seriously Hurt!
Note To C-Level Executives: Get Serious, Or Get Seriously Hurt! Overall, CEOs and C-level executives are not happy about soaring freight costs, and they have questions about the CODE RED conditions in the transportation marketplace. They also are questioning what their companies should be doing to address how supply chain issues are impacting their operations […]
Spotlight On: Maputo Port Embraces Automation
Spotlight On: Maputo Port Embraces Automation There are many lessons that we have learned from COVID-19, and while it has brought with it its fair share of challenges, it has also presented some important opportunities in many industries, including logistics. Maputo Port has taken advantage of the opportunities and taken automation to the next level! […]
Current Look at Freight Transport in SA
Current Look at Freight Transport in SA The Ctrack Freight Transport Index (The Ctrack FTI) tracks 6 of the major logistics sectors of the South African economy, and we’re putting the spotlight on the most recent results and what these say about logistics in South Africa currently. Here are some of the key findings from […]
Study: 85% of CFOs Expect Digitization to Improve Cash Flow, Profitability & Revenue
Study: 85% of CFOs Expect Digitization to Improve Cash Flow, Profitability & Revenue Digitization can bring many benefits to supply chains, such as speed, cost and transparency. When carried out correctly, it can be massively transformative for a business. As the world becomes more connected and digital-based, digitization is the next logical step. A recent study on how finance executives […]
Engen to shut refinery and repurpose KZN site as an import terminal
South African petroleum products group Engen announced on Friday that it would shut the Engen Refinery and convert the site, located south of Durban, into an import terminal and product storage facility by the end of 2023. Engen said the refinery-to-terminal (RTT) repurposing initiative was based on a strategic evaluation, which confirmed the refinery was […]
TSI Spotlight On: Demurrage and Detention
Update: What is detention and demurrage? This is the most confusing for most importers and exporters, Demurrage is what you pay when you don’t collect your container on time out of a port. Mostly because your clearing and forwarding agent hasn’t received the clearance documents or the transporter/haulier has not collected it on time, so […]
E-commerce Expansion Causes Rapid Growth in the Courier Industry
Have you shopped online in the past 6 months? We are guessing that the answer to that question in this day and age is yes, and if you haven’t personally then someone in your family probably has bought something online. While shopping online was gaining popularity before the pandemic, this only helped to accelerate its […]
Top 5 Supply Chain Security Concerns and Best Practices to Address Them
The average cost of a data breach is nearly $4 million, so companies need to protect their supply chains with security comprised of a combination of layered defenses. A recent report showed us that the 2020 threat landscape was largely shaped by the pandemic. As businesses raced to transition to cloud environments to keep their businesses’ […]
Preparing Your Data for AI, Blockchain, and other Emerging Technologies
One of the biggest mistakes companies often make is chasing after the next, new shiny technology application without first clearly defining the business problem or opportunity they’re looking to address — and without first getting their data in order. Why do companies still struggle with data quality management? How do you get over the change […]
How Solid is Your Supply Chain?
With the massive expansion of the supply chain, the risk has also increased due to a greater attack surface. More common threats such as cyber security, are still around and even more sophisticated, and natural disasters have and will always be a threat to the supply chain, but COVID-19 has been one threat that has […]
What We Can Learn from the Ever Given Suez Canal Incident
The news of the cargo ship, Ever Given, blocking the Suez Canal took the focus off COVID-19 for a bit and was certainly a topic of interest around the world, as well as being a focus of many an entertaining meme! While this incident caused a fair bit of trouble, there are also a number […]
Optimising processes is critical to driving continuous improvement in a post-pandemic world
The manufacturing, warehousing and logistics sector has faced a number of challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Those in services that were deemed essential had to cope with increased demand alongside reduced headcount, with short turnaround times. Other services experienced complete shutdowns followed by the need to reopen efficiently, when permitted, to maximise […]
New survey highlights opportunities to future-proof supply chains
According to new research from Orange Business Services, supply chains in 40% of multinational corporations were unable to cope with the crisis created by the pandemic. The report surveyed 320 enterprises, focusing on the manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors, across 18 countries between August and October 2020. The survey, carried out for by independent research […]
A Look at Some KPI’s for the Freight Shipping Industry
We take a look at some of the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are essential in the freight shipping industry. Managing logistics spend efficiently is one of the most important processes for all shippers, and also one that can present the most problems. These KPIs are also useful when it comes to tracking the right […]
What Your Need to Know About the TIR System and Why SA is Being Urged to Take the Lead in Adopting It
You might have heard the term ‘TIR’ being used a little more frequently recently. TIR stands for Transport Internationaux Routiers system and it is a United Nations convention that makes it possible for goods to be shipped from a country of origin, through transit countries, to the destination country. The goods are able to be […]
Four Questions to Determine the Ideal Supply Chain Technology Provider
As we look to 2021, the phrase “prepare for the unknown” has been stuck in my head. Many people over the past few months have used this phrase as a warning, promising that the supply chain world this year will be extremely unpredictable, even when a coronavirus vaccine becomes widely available. This expression could also […]
How Machine Learning Is Revolutionizing E-Commerce Business
Artificial Intelligence is not a futuristic technology anymore. Advanced technologies such as Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence are changing the game. Machine learning helps e-commerce giants secure their crucial data by simplifying it into small chunks. E-commerce has always been an industry disruptor. Technology has become more sophisticated than ever when we talk about Artificial […]
The Supply Chain’s Role in COVID-19 Vaccinations
From toilet paper hoarding and banana bread challenges, 2020 was a year full of weird and wonderful things, to the point where almost nothing could surprise us. We made it through, and here we are at the beginning of 2021, and COVID-19 vaccines are the talk of the town at the moment. This also brings […]