South Africa’s Logistics Industry: Biggest Success Stories
Logistics is an important industry that fuels commerce in any country. South Africa is no exception, and it is seeing serious growth in this sector. From trucks to technology, there are a number of South African logistics success stories worth highlighting. This article explains the scale of investment made in the logistics sector in South Africa and highlights some of the biggest success stories.
The biggest players in South Africa’s logistics sector are all global, including Maersk, Alexender Forbes and UTi. South African industry peers, including Unitrans Supply Chain Solutions and Imperial Logistics, are also significant. Since 2018, these companies have seen an aggregate investment reaching close to R50 billion.
South African logistics companies are striving to optimize their operations by embracing technology and automation solutions. This is being enabled through a wave of infrastructure investment and reform, such as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Transnet Modernisation Program. Logistics companies are investing in more efficient methods and procedures to improve their day to day operations and reduce costs.
Unitrans’ Automated Storage Solution
In 2020, Unitrans Supply Chain Solutions (Unitrans), one of South Africa’s top logistics companies, announced the launch of its automated storage solution at its facility near Springs, Gauteng. It is the first of its kind in South Africa, and the 16-aisle facility is capable of handling up to 45,000 pallets in a single shift. The storage solution includes an automatically powered stacker crane, conveyors and specialised lifts that can handle heavy cargo and pallets.
The automated solution reduces the time for loading, unloading and palletising by up to 80%. This enables Unitrans to process more orders in a day and reduce its operational overheads, making the solution profitable in the long term.
AFT SideLoader Trailers Delivering Fresh Produce Across South Africa
Another strong logistics success story in South Africa is the use of AFT SideLoader trailers. The face lift of the AFT SideLoader was a multi-million rand investment to assist in the delivery of fresh produce across the country. The trailers load or unload from the sides instead of the rear, making them ideal for short distances and door-to-door deliveries.
The AFT SideLoader trailers have become the much needed solution for fresh produce transportation in the country, enabling fresh produce to be delivered from farms to markets in various parts of South Africa. It has revolutionised transport within the industry, enabling a safer and more cost-effective delivery of items.
JT Express Pilots Autonomous Container Truck
JT Express, one of South Africa’s leading logistics companies, has successfully piloted its autonomous container truck on the N3 highway between Durban and Johannesburg. The truck, which travels at an average speed of 65km/h, is equipped with GPS, cameras, sensors and radar. The data collected from these sensors is used to monitor the truck’s location, speed and direction.
This pilot project has been hugely successful in assessing the potential for automated delivery systems, which reduce the risk of human errors and improve the efficiency of transportation. In the future, it is likely that autonomous trucks will become increasingly commonplace in the South African logistics industry.
Qiktruck: Connecting Customers with Transporters across South Africa
As exemplified by the afore mentioned companies, the logistics Industry in South Africa is fast gaining advantage of technologies that are revolutionizing the transport industry. An emerging success story is Qiktruck, an on-demand truck and driver hire service that connects customers with transporters across South Africa. Qiktruck leverages algorithms and mobile technology to automate some of the processes associated with trucking and logistical operations, such as route planning and tracking.
Qiktruck is a hassle free, fast and transparent truckingplatform that can streamline operations for both the shipper and the transporter. It enables truckers to get jobs quickly and customers to get quotes in real-time, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. With an extensive network that covers the entire country and is constantly growing, Qiktruck is the ideal solution for Customers who require reliable, competitively priced transport services.
Conclusion
We’ve seen a number of South African businesses succeeding in the logistics industry over the last few years. Companies are making huge strides in technology and automation to optimise their operations, driving efficiency and reducing costs. As technology advances, these successes are only likely to grow. But companies need an efficient and reliable platform to keep up with the ever-changing industry.
Qiktruck provides a great platform to bridge the gap between Customers and Transporters, streamlining operations for both parties. Their platform is fast and transparent, enabling truckers to get jobs quickly and customers to get quotes in real-time. For customers in need of reliable and affordable transport services, Qiktruck is the perfect solution.