AST ahowcases logistics capabilities at SAPICS

The AST Group will showcase its full range of logistics and supply chain solutions at this year`s SAPICS conference in Durban, which is taking place from 18 to 20 June.

AST is targeting this lucrative market and will exhibit innovative technology solutions combined with day-to-day management services in order to leverage the potential of - and the opportunities presented by - collaborative logistics.

If SA follows international trends, the total cost of logistics in SA is estimated at R70 billion per annum. This includes insourced and outsourced activities. The outsourcing of logistics will grow by at least 15% in the next five years.

"Far higher growth rates can be expected in the outsourcing of supply chain management, planning and optimisation, as there are virtually no working models in SA," explains Pieter Bouwer, Executive Director at the AST Group.

Value is created through the establishment of a central, collaborative logistics network, providing opportunities for suppliers, shippers, customers and other logistic services to pool resources for greater efficiencies. The focus is therefore on true and neutral collaboration and not, as is the case with asset providers, on better utilisation of own assets. The network also does not exclude supplier companies which prefer to utilise own logistics assets.

"Through our joint capabilities, AST provides economies of scale with regard to software, hardware and intellectual capital. Companies that do not focus on logistics as a core competence would rarely be able to justify the expenditure required to acquire and/or develop best-of-breed logistics management, planning and optimisation technology and human resources," notes Bouwer.

AST business units at the conference will include:

* AST Enterprise Solutions Management (ESM) - AST ESM can provide organisations with a complete B2Bi solution to link internal systems with those of their key customers or suppliers, or to create a B2B marketplace to connect buyers and sellers.

* Incito - a major player in the field of Fourth Party Logistics (4PL) and e-fulfilment, with the aim of satisfying the demand for e-commerce directed to the end-user.

* AST Manufacturing Systems Integration (MSI) - will focus on the integration of best-of-breed software solutions for the manufacturing industry, in both the horizontal supply chain domain and in vertical integration.

* AST Workflow & EDMS Solutions - will provide clients nationally and internationally with best practice workflow, electronic document management, imaging solutions and archiving.

In addition, Geoff Hardwick, GM: Business Integration at AST ESM, will present a paper on "abusing IT to achieve business benefit".