Wits University is in the early stages of driving an initiative that will hopefully boost the export sector through making research data and intellectual capital about logistics available to the entire freight and trade spectrum.
Part-time supply chain lecturer, Dr Dennis Laxton, told FTW “we need an app to open up access to scientifically proven information by the likes of the CSIR and universities like Wits, particularly in aid of smaller suppliers.”
The main reason for believing in the need for increased integration, he said, was because of the benefits of collaboration between large companies, smaller suppliers, relevant government entities, and research facilities.
“If we used our resources more effectively, and we made valuable information available to people who don’t have access to data, we could strengthen our export sector. But we need a spider web of interlocking technology and open-source information.” Laxton said because we have “pockets of expertise that are not integrated into a wider system, we are left looking for solutions in isolation.”
He mentioned how companies like Nestle and Starbucks had incorporated smaller suppliers into their business networks, ensuring that more flexible and less rigid availability of product was absorbed into a system supported by corporate nous and commercial momentum. One country where greater integration across the logistics span had been established to great effect, Laxton said, was Mozambique.
“They have looked at all aspects of logistics to see where they can improve on issues such as delays at port. They have spent a lot of money on infrastructure and have accomplished a great deal in getting rid of supply chain delays.” It included the use of technology to pre-clear goods before they arrived at port, Laxton added.
Getting back to the idea of an app, he said that aside from the sharing of information that could possibly help with optimising routes and issues around regulation, it could also serve to build enthusiasm around the idea of establishing public networking hubs.
“We need to build these linkages,” Laxton said. “We need a commercial, inter-connected community where people can collaborate in view of working towards an enhanced supply chain performance.”
The reason why there was such disagreement between government and industry over the infamous height-restriction issue that would’ve effectively made the transportation of high-cube containers by road almost impossible, was because of ignorance, according to Laxton. If the relevant officials had access to the right kind of information, things might have been different.
Instead outdated and inadequate data was used, an accusation that various industry representative also levelled at government at the time. Laxton emphasised that although the Wits initiative was at an early stage, various engineering departments from the university had already been approached to participate.
“We’re also interested in incorporating a media partner to assist us with distributing supply chain information to a wider audience, thereby creating a value network for the logistics industry.”
We need an app to open up access to scientifically proven information by the likes of the CSIR and universities like Wits. – Dr Dennis Laxton
