Cargo giant Manica integrates IT in R2,1m project with PQ Africa

Johannesburg-based Manica, one of southern Africa`s largest cargo handling and transportation companies, has completed the first phase of a R2,1m IT integration project with PQ Tetra, PQ Africa`s specialist business management system (BMS) division. The project will ultimately link the financial and enterprise information systems of Manica`s sub-Saharan offices.

The company, part of the Rennies and Bidvest groups, chose Sage Enterprise Solutions` Sage Enterprise as the BMS engine for the project, and PQ Tetra - the largest Sage Enterprise partner in Africa - as its implementation partner.

With centres in over 50 locations spread across South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Manica`s operations include door-to-door sea freight services to East and West Africa, road freight, bulk cargo and customs and excise logistics. "One of the key factors in maintaining this vast operation," says IT manager Derek Smith, "is having an integrated IT operation and up-to-date information available for the people who need it.

"Before we embarked on the project, we were saddled with a legacy DOS-based system with a proprietary file structure that had no integration facilities, no EDI or e-commerce support and no way of linking our remote operations to each other to create the management information system we were looking for," he says. "This made it impossible to gather information quickly for detailed analysis, or to generate meaningful reports from the information we could access."

Following a lengthy evaluation process where various products - including Accpac, SAP R/3 and JD Edwards - and operating platforms were considered, Sage Enterprise was chosen as the most appropriate application for the project and rolled out to Manica`s South African centres as a test run prior to expansion to other centres.

"We wanted to make sure the technology and implementation team met our strict performance standards before we presented the rollout strategy to our shareholders," says Smith. "With few exceptions, the project was delivered on time and within budget, which is almost unheard of these days."

Smith says the strength of PQ Tetra`s solution was in the supply chain management competency that underpins the core of Manica`s business.

"Our supply chain, especially into Africa, is complex, and includes the placement of an order for goods, collection of the goods, handling of paperwork and insurance documents, on- and off-loading, cartage and cross-haulage, customs clearance and duty payments, shipment to the final destination and final invoicing. Timing is essential, as are constant monitoring and accurate information feedback."

PQ Tetra divisional manager Stephen Howe says return on investment is key to any business decision, especially when it comes to a BMS.

"Manica has a good understanding of where it`s going and a solid foundation for its growth plans going forward, both contributing factors to a positive return.

"Sage Enterprise fits its broader IT strategy and facilitates each stage of the supply chain process with easily manageable modules. Once the second phase of linking the African centres is complete, the old, isolated information system we started off with will be replaced by a scalable, multi-national management information system backed by Sage-certified maintenance, support and skills throughout the region."