Data Integration Could Improve South Africa's Port Performance

Stakeholders in South Africas logistics sector are looking to integrate various sources of logistics data in the local fresh produce export sector to improve port efficiency.

The idea of an integrated logistics platform similar to Portbase, an integrated data system implemented by the Port of Rotterdam, and the Networked Trade Platform applied in Singapore, was floated at a recent collaborative workshop, according to a circular of the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum FPEF.

The forum says the objective of the workshop was to establish and conceptualise the characteristics of an integrated logistics data platform serving port stakeholders.

The data systems that could be integrated into such a system include:

The Provincial Government Digital Logistics Planning Platform designed by data service provider Crickmay Fresh produce stock movement monitoring by Agri-Hub The South African Table Grape Industrys optimisation model The empty container and container inspections monitoring data of the Perishable Products Export Control Board Transnets internal port productivity portal

By enabling the consolidation of this data, South Africa would be able to create a port community platform unique to the local logistics environment, using insights from the systems used in Rotterdam and Singapore.

The common understanding on the vision of such an integrated logistics platform is to establish a highly optimised and efficient logistics chain by achieving seamless collaboration and unified reporting across all logistics data sources, according to the FPEF.

Invited attendees shared ideas on integrating and consolidating logistics information on a single platform, assigning user access rights for specific logistics stakeholders, to optimise the logistics chain. Replicating logistics processes in a digital environment would inevitably result in better planning and resource allocation across port users and other logistics stakeholders.

The forum noted that one of the first steps will be to formalise a working relationship with the Transnet National Ports Authority and Transnet Port Terminals to enable collaboration on logistics information and insights into digitising logistics processes, which would be guided by a memorandum of understanding.

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