Transportation andLogistics Managementwith SAP Business One®

The transport and logistics industry is a dynamic environment that is characterized by constant cost pressures, new players, advancing globalisation, increasing rules and regulations, as well as rapid digital transformation.

Globally, companies are achieving international growth through acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, which is reshaping the transport and logistics industry. The emergence of a global village has also lead to a decline in trade barriers, which has enabled many new competitors to join the same route.

In the age of instant gratification and immediate access to information, customers’ expectations have transformed. Customers are now demanding quicker, more reliable, accessible and more efficient transport and logistics solutions. Simple logistics companies have had to expand their service offering to now include services throughout the supply chain and not only the delivery of goods.

Now, more than ever, transport and logistics companies need to comply with industry rules and regulations.

This process involves implementing Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) systems to ensure that fleets comply with regulatory standards.

These standards often differ from country to country and are aimed at minimising as much risk as possible for employees and assets. For HSE to become an efficient and streamlined process, all documents, tasks, license renewals and activities need to take place within a single integrated business management solution.

Digital transformation is also a key trend to keep top-of-mind as processes and operations are increasingly in the spotlight to become more streamlined and mobile. There is also increased demand, and use, of telematics to monitor and track vehicles. Telematics allow transportation businesses to gather accurate data on fuel consumption, asset operation, routes, current location and engine status.

In order for businesses in this industry to maintain a competitive edge over new entrants to the market, it has become standard to adopt technology as a platform to increase efficiency, streamline processes and better manage financials.

Technology Adoption Within Transport and Logistics Businesses in Africa

Using technology as a driver to steer your transport business towards efficient and profitable route.

• Utilisation: Getting the most value out of each kilometer by minimising driving times and reducing vehicle idling.

• Compliance: Keep abreast of industry rules and requirements that apply to labeling and manifest reporting as well as vehicle and asset maintenance. There is increasing pressure for transportation businesses to reduce carbon emissions and adhere to stringent sustainability best-practices.

•Paperworkhandling: Many SME’s are still using paper-based methods of invoicing, maintenance management and inventory tracking.

• Multiplesystems: In additional to paperwork and manual processes, many transportation businesses run multiple, non-integrated systems that are traditionally required to cater to a wide range of needs.

• Customer/drivercommunications andassetmonitoring: Many businesses still rely on manually calling drivers for updates, ETA’s and delivery progress. This is a time-consuming and costly way of getting updates and tracking progress.

• Tracking: Manual inventory management and tracking numerous shipments is laborious when dealing with different tracking numbers and logistics suppliers.

• Communication:When dealing with multiple suppliers, information is often not distributed effectively as there is no central communication platform for all parties involved. This leads to costly shipping errors due to miscommunications or misunderstandings.

Transportation and Logistics ComplexitiesandChallengesAriseFromDynamic Operating Environments

The transportation and logistics industry is one of the most complex business environments to operate in. There are a wide range of factors that need constant attention and that need constant monitoring to ensure compliance, adherence to safety guidelines and to maintain a competitive edge. Some of the challenges that transportation companies have to face include, among others:

Health, Safety and Environment Management

• Violations

• HSEincidents

• Alcohol&drugs

• Hazards

• Dangerousgoodshandling

Driver Management

• Regulatorycompliance

• Recruitment&assessments

• Showingtheend-to-endprocessof recruiting new drivers.

• Recodingperiodicphysical assessments. These are usually manual and completed on Excel and are not tracked within a business management system.

• Standardisingwaystoorientnew employees.

FinancialManagement

• Acceleratetransactionsandimprove cash flow

• Enhanceddecision-making

• Financiallegislation

• Analysis&reporting

• Costperkilometer(CPK)andprofitper kilometer monitoring

• Customerbilling

•Driver,route,tour,andvehiclefinancial monitoring

Analytics and Reporting

• Customisedashboards

• Createstandardorad-hocreports instantly

• Integratealldataintoonesystem

• Trackandtraceactivitiesinreal-time

Vehicle Maintenance Management

• Inspections

• Jobcards

• Securityreleasefromworkshop

• Inclusionofworkshopstaff

• Fuelconsumptionmonitoring

• Technicianscheduling&monitoring

Journey Management

• Dispatchplanning/routing

• Freightmanagement

• Journeyexpensesmanagement

• Proofofdelivery

• Driversettlement

• Freighttracking

• Pre/postvehicleinspections

• Statusofloads

AboutBluekeySeidor

BluekeySeidorispartoftheSeidorGroupofCompanies,whichistheNo.1SAPBusinessOnePartnerinAfrica.

Seidor is Africa’s most awarded SAP Business One Partner, SAP PartnerEdge Gold status, SAP EMEA Pinnacle Award Winner, SAP Business One Africa Partner-of-the-Year 2005-2011, SAP Business One AfricaRetailPartneraward2013-2014andSAPBusinessOneVARoftheyear2105.

Our 100+ staff service more than 280 customers across the continent through full service branches in Johannesburg,CapeTown,Durban,Nairobi,DaresSalaam and Port Louis, and our extensive business and technology partner network enhances our reach and capacity.

Used by more that 55,000 customers around the world, SAP Business One brings sales, financial management, banking, purchasing, manufacturing, inventory management, service and customer relationship management together in one flexible, responsive system.

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