Page 5 - LUA November - December 2023 for Magzter

This reduces container vessel waiting times
at some ports from five days to a matter
of hours, which is particularly valuable
for traders of perishable goods, and
those taking advantage of the enormous
NxtPort e-commerce market in Africa.
The port of Antwerp focuses The African market is also very
its strategy of operational comfortable making financial transactions
improvement on NxtPort, an on their phones. Building on this existing
batteries) is expected to increase by 46 information sharing platform trust in personal tech, DP World was able to
per cent by 2025. While Africa is famed roll out CARGOES to small and medium-
for exporting its rich minerals across for companies such as BASF, sized enterprises. This has created access
the world, population growth and rising MSC, Katoen Natie, DP World to key shipping and customs resources
per capita incomes also make Africa a and PSA. The objective is previously unavailable to them. This hasn’t
potential for imports. to become a self-sustaining just given these companies a simplified
For international companies that data-commercialization route to the logistics sources they need to
understand the continent’s potential, the company that will gather, trade – it is revolutionising their banking
principles of exporting goods into Africa centralize, store, analyse and how they organise their supply. As
are no different from exporting to any and exchange data from a result, these businesses are appealing
other continent. You research to learn how a wide variety of logistic more to foreign investors, who can now
your product compares to what might actors. Other parties which confidently trade with them throughout
already be supplied, and if there is a gap, can join the platform in Africa – because they have visibility of a
there is an opportunity. due time include customs, secure end-to-end supply chain.
It sounds simple enough, but until With CARGOES, traders can also
recently, international traders looking to food quality control, other access essential information regarding
distribute across Africa did not have the governmental agencies and bookings for their freight. In a few simple
tools to understand demand, preventing IT application developers. steps, they can see how long it will take a
the management of inventory levels. And product to travel from the factory floor to
if they did distribute products into the To bring greater value to customers the customer’s door – and what the cost will
market, inefficient procedures and tariff and governments, DP World introduced be. This enables everyone along the supply
barriers hampered trade. CARGOES to the region – a digital suite of chain to book and pay safely to transport
But Africa's trading environment enterprise services and products designed their goods – all from their phone.
and infrastructure are modernising as to digitalise and streamline the supply Operating digitally is not just beneficial
fast as the opportunities are presenting chain process. These products can be used for traders – it also alleviates the pressure
themselves, and DP World is investing on both desktop and smartphone. on regulators. Digital platforms provide
heavily in the digital infrastructure to help Previously cargo tracking, invoicing, visibility, meaning customs officials
Africa keep up with demand. This includes payments, and vehicle booking would take can immediately see what is being
inter-bank operability programmes and weeks. Today our tools enable enterprises transported, where it has come from,
truck booking platforms, which have seen to collaborate with local customs and where it has stopped along the way, and
a reduction in vast cash payments at ports, banking institutions to roll out immediate the end destination. They can see if all
better scheduling, and availability of inland payments to customers and introduce the necessary documentation has been
transport providers. tracking services for trucking companies. completed and if the relevant import and

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