Striving for security of supply

WOMEN IN LOGISTICS: Reaching new heights in agricultural logistics

Marlé Badenhorst of DACHSER South Africa, part of a global logistics company, has worked in the agricultural logistics industry for fifteen years. Her considerable experience and personal approach, backed by DACHSER’s range of specialists and comprehensive international logistics networks, ensures that the company provides expert, personalised solutions to clients when it comes to agricultural import and export.  

DACHSER South Africa provides full supply chain logistics solutions to the agricultural industry, including freight forwarding and cold chain solutions. The company most frequently deals with bulk imports of agricultural implements, equipment and even entire plants from countries including Germany, China and Turkey, as well as importing raw materials for agricultural use that would be too expensive to produce locally.  DACHSER South Africa handles exports of various commodities to African countries and internationally.

Many years of analysing client needs and challenges, and then finding solutions, has helped Badenhorst identify what clients really require from an agricultural logistics service provider.  “Clients are so varied with regard to their individual requirements, but often the problems and challenges they face are similar,” she says.  According to Badenhorst, several critical factors come into play to ensure top performance from a logistics company servicing the agricultural industry.

Personalised service

Based centrally in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Badenhorst can often be found visiting outlaying areas including mines & farms in the Free State or Northern Cape to discuss customers’ projects. “Meeting with customers on their premises, including outlying areas like mines or farms, really adds value and is part of the recipe for the long term successful relationships that we cultivate.  I believe a personal relationship is very important to people in the agricultural industry.” 

Harnessing an international network

Dachser has a closely integrated, worldwide transport and warehouse network with over 376 locations in 42 countries, providing customers with a strong presence in the most important procurement and sales markets in the world. “Having so many offices internationally strengthens our network for communications, provides a strong infrastructure and often helps us provide the best quotes,” says Badenhorst. “Recently, we assisted with the import of an entire fertiliser bagging plant from the Netherlands for an agricultural customer. Our offices in the Netherlands and in Germany ensured that  we could offer the best transport rates and a seamless process.”

According to Badenhorst, network knowledge also comes into play when exporting agricultural commodities to any African country, or to international markets. “Thanks to our offices in all the relevant countries, DACHSER has the knowledge and relationships to be able to advise on the various certification and import requirements for a particular product in these countries, ensuring the process runs as smoothly as possible.”

Tailored solutions and careful cost management

Badenhorst says the biggest challenge for import and export has become finding good sea freight rates, due to major increases in shipping charges after the pandemic. “Escalating costs and exchange rate changes have completely exploded the rates per container. We focus on strong negotiation and contacts to ensure that shipments are still viable for customers.”

Intent on finding specific solutions for clients, Badenhorst works hard to streamline haul operations in each case. “We definitely do not apply a standard approach to every client. We monitor charges line by line and deal with all the suppliers directly rather than using third parties where possible. All the charges add up, and it makes a difference when it comes to keeping costs to a minimum.”

Ability to provide live updates and frequent communication

“Not knowing what is happening is a pain point for clients, and they appreciate frequent live updates of the status of their shipments,” says Badenhorst. “DACHSER’s sophisticated client information systems enable this. We monitor shipments on a daily basis, and we are very proactive on updating customers.  Dachser is implementing a direct customer tracking programme, which takes it to the next level of enabling customers to directly track their own shipments.”

Customs expertise

As a freight forwarder, it is essential to have good relationships with the shipping lines and an excellent grasp of shipping principles and Incoterms, says Badenhorst. She accesses the specialist knowledge of colleagues like Deon Heunes, a former customs officer himself. “Deon’s knowledge is impressive. If we do encounter hold-ups, we ensure we are in the best position to assist and keep clients updated. Delays in customs can be expensive and it is critical to avoid unnecessary delays and penalties.”

In some cases, DACHSER South Africa only comes in at the point of clearance and delivery in South Africa, even if the company hasn’t undertaken the marine transportation. “We work closely with the bank’s forex departments to assist customers with the correct documentation,” says Badenhorst.

The right expertise and experience to manage risks and add value

“We help clients to manage risks and evaluate where they might have gaps,” says Badenhorst. “In particular Insurance can be complicated, and we often find new clients who have been importing for many years simply don’t have the correct insurance cover. A good freight forwarder must be able to advise on this.”

Badenhorst also notes the importance of frequent review of terms and agreements between freight forwarders and clients. “At DACHSER, we don’t take the approach of simply implementing annual rate increases. Matters are evolving so much in logistics, and a full review is critical to ensure the client has the best possible pricing.”

With South Africa’s agricultural production set to reach record levels again, strong logistics partners are a critical part of maximising opportunities in the sector. Fresh from great success at agricultural exhibition NAMPO, Badenhorst is excited about what the future holds. “It’s very rewarding to see how much value we can add for clients in this sector as we take on bigger projects, shipping lines recover and we are able to support Southern Africa’s agricultural industry as it grows to new heights.”

About DACHSER:

A family-owned company headquartered in Kempten, Germany, DACHSER is a leading supplier of logistics services worldwide. DACHSER offers comprehensive transport logistics, warehousing, and customer-specific services in two business fields: DACHSER Air & Sea Logistics and DACHSER Road Logistics. The latter consists of two business lines: DACHSER European Logistics and DACHSER Food Logistics. Comprehensive contract-logistics services and industry-specific solutions round out the company’s offerings. A seamless shipping network—both in Europe and overseas—and fully integrated IT systems ensure intelligent logistics solutions worldwide.

Thanks to some 31,756 employees at 376 locations all over the globe, DACHSER generated revenue of 7.1 billion euros in 2021.  Country organisations represent DACHSER in 42 countries, including South Africa.

On-site partnerships ensure DACHSER serves medical logistics needs

From specialised Stiegelmeyer hospital beds, to Dr. Reddy’s pharmaceuticals to carefully calibrated medical equipment for Welch Allyn, DACHSER South Africa is delivering essential medical supplies throughout South Africa for a number of medical clients – ensuring that medical providers have the equipment they need in this challenging time. 

“The Dachser team has considerable experience in medical and pharmaceutical delivery, which has stringent health and safety compliance requirements,” says DACHSER SA managing director Detlev Duve. “We must also be able to support our clients in responding rapidly and effectively to growing needs during COVID-19. DACHSER has continued to operate effectively during lockdown with a dedicated team of home-based office staff and skeleton staff at all of our depots and local delivery centres. The entire supply chain is fully operational and on track for essential items.”

Duve says on-site partnerships and effective communications have been a key element of success in the specialist field of medical logistics. DACHSER is able to offer clients specialised warehousing and office space at the company’s Pomona head-office and five clients currently benefit from on-site offices. 

When specialised hospital bed supplier Stiegelmeyer contracted with Dachser four years ago, the German manufacturer was importing beds to South Africa. They soon moved from their original Centurion premises and to the DACHSER premises in Kempton Park, facilitating a strong partnership and seamless logistics that has grown with the business as they expanded to exporting into Africa.  Besides a full range of hospital beds supplied to largely private sector hospitals in South Africa, Stiegelmeyer has been exporting refugee beds across borders.  With the COVID-19 pandemic taking hold, the need for these beds may increase locally as well, and the DACHSER team is ready to handle increased volumes.

Theuns Burger of Stiegelmeyer says, “Interventions in response to the Coronavirus are currently impacting life at all levels. As a supplier to the medical field, we’re committed to doing whatever necessary to remain true to our healthcare mandate and to be able to react to special demands for supplies and services, even at very short notice. We have implemented extensive measures in our production and supply chain and DACHSER is an critical partner in ensuring that we are able to deliver across Southern Africa.”

Burger says the company chose DACHSER as the team was able to offer a well-priced, full solution for importing, exporting, warehousing and distribution. “With an office on site, we have full access to our stock at all times.  Working on-site has resulted in considerable efficiencies and cost-savings for our business. The Dachser team has a strong understanding of our business and we have been very happy with their service levels as a longterm supply chain fulfilment partner.”

Stiegelmeyer has a dedicated pick and pack area and space for display models, with beds built to client specifications at the DACHSER warehouse. DACHSER move up to 40 beds at time, many of which are high value items. The service includes unpacking and installing the beds in hospitals, and at times removing the older beds that the new stock will replace. This process requires health and safety preparation work and liason with the hospitals. Dachser co-ordinate with the Stiegelmeyer team to ensure that their sales executives are always there to sign off once beds have been installed.

Welch Allyn, a supplier of medical equipment, requires rigorous logistics management to ensure that their products reach medical rooms, hospitals and clinics in the perfect condition, and at the right time, in both urban centres and rural areas. Their range includes products from basic syringes to specialist cardiopulmonary equipment and patient monitoring systems. 

Welch Allyn staff are also located at the DACHSER warehouse, working closely with logistics teams to take care of medical product calibration and other specialist requirements while these products are in storage and transit. When products include high-cost, sophisticated technological equipment, error-free picking and packing is critical. In the company’s decade-long relationship with the client, stock has never once had to be written off, which is a massive achievement given that Dachser has moved millions of units of stock for the business over the years.

Duve says DACHSER's picking and packing service forms part of a continuous process that only concludes once products reaches its final destination. “Medical products are picked and packed to particular specifications that include temperature control and movement reduction. We make sure this remains consistent in transit, until the product has been handed over at the final point. Our picking and packing is further supported by a sophisticated IT system which enables the transparent coordination of complex activities and real-time information for clients on their stock.”

Duve concludes, “Clients entrust us with an important part of their business at critical times, and our service levels must remain consistent whatever the challenges may be. As a logistics company, our business is to understand this trust and to grow it into a successful logistics partnership.”

DACHSER charters world's largest cargo aircraft

DACHSER Air & Sea Logistics' international teams have chartered the world's largest cargo aircrafts, the Antonovs AN-124 and AN-225. The aircrafts transport medical goods from China to Austria on multiple occasions for a customer, after which DACHSER redistributed the goods through its overland network.