CHC invests heavily in new systems

Having taken the bull by
the horns and entered the
container industry, newly
licensed CHC Container
Depots is now investing
heavily in infrastructure,
security and IT systems.
According to CHC
Resources CEO Reshaan
Laljith, this is imperative
to ensure a top-notch
service at all levels. With
warehouses being renovated
in Durban, the company
also moved premises in
Johannesburg to a facility
in Pomona in order to
accommodate the new
container business.
Laljith says no expense
is being spared in the
upgrading of facilities and
the implementation of a
new IT system. Security is
also being addressed as it is
no longer business as usual.
“We identified a gap
in the market and took
the decision to enter the
container industry as we
believe that we can do it
differently. We want to put
class back into container
handling.”
Having invested in
the development of a
personalised IT system
that is in the process of
being implemented, CHC
Container Depot will now
have a system in place
unlike any other, says
Laljith.
“Our service depends
on our systems and that
is why we took the time
to develop an integrated
system that addresses
the specific needs of the
container industry,” he
said. “We mapped out the
entire system to address the
needs of not just ourselves
but also our customers,
who were involved in its
development.”
Through the new IT
system, communication
with customers will be
taken to another level, says
Laljith. “The entire process
is of such a nature that we
can keep in touch with
our customers at all times.
Our customers will also
have access to information
about their shipments via
our website rather than
having to communicate via
telephone. We have also
developed a key facility
wherein customers will
be notified about their
deliveries via email if they
have not yet collected their
cargo.”
He says the system now
also ensures an electronic
file for each shipment along
with the old manual files.
“And it is all backed up and
integrated to ensure a faster
and more efficient service.”
The company has
also focused strongly on
security, installing state
of the art electronic gear
to monitor warehouse
activities and allow access
to the premises.
“Security is extremely
important. Some may
believe that the pilfering
of containers is part of the
business, but it is definitely
not part of our business
and we are implementing
various systems to ensure
we have outstanding
security.”
According to Laljith,
a strategic decision
was also taken to not
base its headquarters at
City Deep in Johannesburg,
but rather in Kempton
Park. “Security is one of
the reasons why we decided
on this, the other being
that we wanted to be closer
to our customers.”
With premises in
Johannesburg, Cape
Town and Durban, CHC
specialises in handling
groupage cargoes.