Electronic specialists add value to clients' inventory management

SPECIALISTS in the warehousing and distribution of electronic consumer goods, Rennies Technology Logistics has grown its customer base over the past five years from one to over 20 blue chip customers who deal in well-known brand-named goods, says managing director Ken Jackson.
The company handles high-value goods such as TVs, hi-fis, VCRs, cameras and many other consumer goods. It has also expanded into Ôwhite goods' and warehouses over R100 million worth of cargo at any given time.
"We started off with a single customer but over the years we have become experts in handling these highly-valuable goods.
Besides risk management, we have to deal with high security issues," he said.
Part of the company's success, said Jackson, is its extensive management experience and knowledge within the technology business.
Warehousing entails not just the physical handling of goods but most importantly, the management of our clients and information flow to enable us to give our clients constant feedback on their goods," he said.
Jackson said the market was a complicated one, particularly because of the rapidly changing technology in electronic goods which emanated mainly from the East.
"Technology is being upgraded daily and we have to keep a handle on it by maintaining strict checks on all goods which complicates the storage and handling," he said.
Garry Marshall, managing director of Bidfreight Logistics, of which Rennies Technology Logistics is a subsidiary, said the division had proved that basic warehousing and distribution was not enough.
"We offer value-added services such as management information and flexibility. Because we have the critical mass, we are able to offer competitive rates and tailor made solutions," he said. The consumer electronic goods market is very volatile. It has a history of fragility driven by dollar/yen/rand exchange rates, he said.
"Because of this we have to be extremely flexible and we have to re-engineer our systems and processes on a annual basis," said Marshall.
"The biggest investment the company made was in IT, equipment and development of our people."
Rennies Technology Logistics offers nationwide coverage, through an extensive distribution network, and a cross-border service to the BNSL countries.