Shipping co TPT South Africa signs on TCS for logistics supply chain transformation

South African shipping port operator Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has signed on information technology (IT) services Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to transform its supply chain logistics.

Mumbai-based TCS will also help TPT to develop an integrated online logistics marketplace platform by bringing together cargo owners, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, and road/rail hauling companies. TPT is part of Transnet SOC, state-owned freight transport and handling company. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. 

The platform dubbed Cargo Connect will function as an online logistics marketplace where customers can submit logistics-related requests and allow service providers to bid online. Customers will be able to select the preferred proposal and award the cargo contract to that bidder, according to a statement.  

The platform is expected to be ready in 12 months, and will reshape the industry apart from driving TPT’s growth, it added. 

“A major feature of this solution is a logistics marketplace which will function in the same manner as existing market platforms in the transportation and hospitality industry. Customers could tender logistics requests on the platform and allow logistics service providers to bid and potentially be selected to undertake a logistics service,” Sharla Chetty, CIO of TPT said.  

India’s largest software exporter TCS said that the platform will make the entire request and bid selection process completely transparent, while also helping customers remotely track the cargo at every point of the container journey. The platform will also be able to send automated alerts with critical information, whenever a cargo event occurs.

“The new solution will help us bring all logistics players under one platform, create transparency in the industry, as well us power the next leg of our growth journey,” said  Siyabulela Mhlaluka, general manager, sales and new business development at TPT.  

Sumanta Roy, head of TCS Middle East, Africa, and Mediterranean said that TPT is using digital technologies and agile processes, and establishing the first such marketplace in Africa.

TCS has expanded its digital transformation solutions portfolio. Last month, Digitate, the software division of TCS, launched an artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution to accelerate testing and software release cycles. Dubbed ignio AI.Assurance, the autonomous platform will help enterprises to improve software quality, the company said. 

In late July, TCS had partnered with Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia based Vaillant Group to streamline its business processes and build a digital enterprise core platform to support its business transformation and growth needs. 

Around the same time, the company had also onboarded Paris based physical and digital marketing solutions provider Vistaprint to help the latter migrate to SAP S/4 HANA on the cloud to simplify its business operations.