FreightMatrix.com, a US-based player in the global online logistics marketplace, has entered into a joint venture with Johannesburg-based eFreight. The companies intend to launch FreightMatrix Africa, a service for shippers, carriers and logistics providers in Africa. eFreight is a joint venture with Accenture.
In terms of the deal, FreightMatrix, a subsidiary of supply chain and marketplace solutions provider i2 Technologies, will provide the technology, business process consulting and sales support to FreightMatrix Africa. The latter will initially be launched in SA on the strength of eFreight`s work in the African online logistics market since February 2000. The company says it has capacity commitments from 40% of the South African market.
Gus Kl"ohn, CEO of eFreight, comments: "We spent some time last year developing the business architecture for eFreight. Our discussions with FreightMatrix.com arose after we acknowledged that building a logistics management solution for the South African market from scratch would have cost too much, and taken too long."
"FreightMatrix Africa represents the logical next step in our evolution. The hosted service model is a natural choice for Africa, and in the light of the heightened African trade volumes with the US, it`s the right solution at the right time."
The marketplace aims to reduce the cost of logistics, free up working capital, create visibility of freight in supply chains and increase capacity utilisation.
Trevor Roberts, country manager at i2 Technologies SA, says FreightMatrix Africa has received significant interest from neighbouring countries and a drive into both east and west Africa will soon be launched. Pilot projects are scheduled for March, with a fully operational exchange expected to be running by May 2001.
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