S05 ATR NOV 2021 Warehouses_ATR - New Master Template 2016 28/10/2021 09:29 Page 16
LOGISTICS | REPORT
Supporting Africa’s supply chains
Image Credit: DSV
The logistics sector’s return to normality has been marked by the adoption of innovations in order to maximise efficiency.
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he onset of Covid-19 disrupted every facet of life and industry, and was felt keenly within the logistics sector. With lockdowns imposed and facilities closed or running at reduced operational capacity, warehouses and supply chains struggled to meet demand and the movement of goods was restricted. Since the peak of the pandemic last year, this sector has witnessed a slow return to normality as infections decline, however some trends born out of such troubled times are here to stay. Before the pandemic began, the supply chain was already embracing new technological developments, such as the use of e-commerce and shopping online, which were being introduced to Africa. However the pandemic accelerated this techdriven revolution, with the advantage to working online and automatic operations apparent.
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DSV’s new centralised facility in South Africa.
According to the IFC, this has increased investment in technology such as IoT, cloud computing, automation, and data analytics as well as, in the longer-term, robotics, drones, and autonomous vehicles, all of which have the potential to enhance supply chain efficiency and reduce the exposure to labour shortages. Trasnet, a South Africa logistics operator, was crippled by a cyber attack in July. Associated websites of
the company were down for some time, internal systems were affected and equipment and information was damaged, forcing the company to switch to manual operations. The result was widespread disruption to certain goods in ports and constraints to warehousing were felt for some weeks after. While this is no cause for celebration, and perhaps should serve to highlight the importance of cyber security for all industries, it does indicate the
We have packed the new DSV facility with solutions such as an innovative sorter that can handle 12,000 packages every single hour.” KEITH PIENAAR, CEO OF DSV AFRICA
AFRICAN REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY | NOVEMBER 2021
reliance on technology within the supply and distribution sector and the importance of data and automotive technologies that are surely set to become a mainstay in warehouses across Africa.
The technological wave driving business The benefits of introducing technological and digital innovations into warehouse services and supply chains are many and can serve to bring efficiency to business while reducing costs. For instance, according to Kardex Remstar, automated storage and retrieval systems can recover up to 85% of existing floor space when compared to standard shelving, can help solve labour challenges and manage unpredictable spikes in demands. DSV is one such company that is leaning into this trend. Recently it consolidated its Guateng operations
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