The THRIP Project - Intelligent Freight Security and Visibility System - has won the award for Advanced Hi-Technology Projects in the dti Annual Technology awards, held from 13 to 15 November 2012 at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre (MSCC), in Kimberley.
International and regional trade are key to the future economic success of South Africa and the entire subcontinent. The facilitation of trade is essential to remove barriers that will prevent the southern African subcontinent from competing effectively with the rest of the world. In this context, the efficient movement of freight is of utmost importance. Historically, the movement of freight across borders has been hampered by various factors such as the lack of real-time visibility of the freight, border delays and mismanagement at various levels within the freight delivery cycle.
It was in this light that Ctrack Mzansi got involved with the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP), funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and administered by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
THRIP has provided the platform for long-standing relationships between key players in the telematics industry and academic partners such as the North West University to establish a Centre of Excellence and bring to market proudly South African technologies that can be applied to real-life situations and improve industry and economic development.
Ctrack technology was used to create a rounded solution that provides visibility of the status of consignments throughout transportation. The process delivers end-to-end audit trails through encrypted authorisation codes applying bespoke technology development.
It was an honour when Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, handed over the award in recognition of technological innovation in the category Advanced Hi-Technology Projects to Prof. Alwyn Hoffman from the North West University. Prof. Hoffman works in partnership with Ctrack Mzansi on the THRIP project. "The vision for this project encompasses improved governance and new levels of efficiency," says Hoffman. "In the long run, all stakeholders will benefit from the elimination of corruption and inefficiencies from trade corridor operations."
"Ctrack is proud to be the technology partner of such a ground-breaking project. Ctrack's intelligent, automated monitoring and diagnostics software provides decision support of complex operations," says Ctrack Mzansi managing director, Charley Pietersen.
The purpose of the dti Technology Awards is to raise awareness of the benefits of using technology to improve the competitiveness of enterprises. The awards recognise individuals and organisations that contributed towards technology development and innovation in South Africa. They are also aimed at inspiring and encouraging creativity and technological innovativeness among business people by rewarding those who make use of technology to advance their business.
"We see Ctrack Mzansi's ongoing involvement in the THRIP programme as paramount in building on and expanding the successes of the past. We strongly believe in the synergies established with all our partners in the THRIP programme thus far," says Pietersen. "A vision of profitable efficiency drives us to improve the security and traceability of freight across borders. Several technologies will be used in the process," says Pietersen.
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Ctrack
Ctrack is a JSE company specialising in fleet management and vehicle tracking for a global client base. With more than 25 years' of experience, Ctrack is recognised as a world-leading provider of advanced machine-to-machine communication and telematics solutions that add value to this global base of customers with mobile assets.
Ctrack's end-to-end research, design, development, manufacturing, sales and support of customised solutions for customers is serviced by a global network of staff and team members in more than 50 countries through the Ctrack brand. The company's technology and electronic division designs and develops a robust range of asset management and monitoring systems using GPS satellite positioning, GSM cellular communication systems, and other advanced communication and sensory technologies. The result is innovative and advanced machine-to-machine communication that provides Ctrack customers with 24x7x365 information and monitoring of their mobile assets that help them to achieve operational efficiencies and cost reduction targets.
Operations span six continents, with over 1 000 employees and more than 650 000 systems sold. Web site: www.ctrack.com.
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