Fruit exporter Goede Hoop Vrugte is gaining competitive advantage since its implementation of the Fruit Exporter System from PQ Agriculture, a division of Q Data Consulting which is part of the PQ Africa group.
Goede Hoop Vrugte markets and exports fruit to various overseas markets as well as supplying fruit and vegetables to local fresh product markets and supermarket chains. "In this market the only edge you can have is service," explains Goede Hoop Vrugte`s administrative manager Herman Fourie, "as everyone has roughly the same quality goods we have to look to other areas to differentiate ourselves."
The company has been associated with PQ since its inception in 1990, and uses PQ`s Tetra financial management product. "It was a natural progression for us to implement the Fruit Exporter System given our long standing relationship," comments Fourie. "The PQ Agriculture division clinched the deal in that they have A team dedicated to our market, and have the expertise we need."
Logistically, the system allows Goede Hoop to track containers, monitor what product is where (the packing plant, in cold storage, in transit) and what prices have been realised on the market, all tasks which had to be done manually in the past.
"We hope to be able to use the system to link up all of our farmers and processing facilities in the near future," says Fourie, "which will greatly increase productivity and make our task of marketing and exporting fresh produce significantly easier."
Fourie and other users of the system are working within the Fruit Exporter System user group to achieve these, and other, extensions to the system.
Share
PQ Africa
PQ Africa was formed as a result of the merger of Persetel Holdings and Q Data. Comparex Holdings Limited has a 50% minus one share interest in PQ Africa. The black empowerment group NITAC (the National IT Acquisition Consortium), led by Real Africa Holdings Limited, holds a controlling interest of 50% plus one share in PQ Africa.
PQ Africa is SA`s leading provider of competitive, innovative and flexible business solutions based on Information and Communications Technology ("ICT"). These comprehensive business solutions include systems integration, consulting, package implementation, software development, outsourcing, hardware, software, peripherals, voice, video and data communication systems, customer relationship management solutions and networking equipment and services. Internet solutions include the development and deployment of electronic commerce and electronic data interchange-based solutions and digital authentication.