FINAL WORD
“Africa puts people
at the centre
of all product
development.”
Malawi, Rwanda and Uganda. Africa
needs to focus on improving transport
logistics infrastructure, the high cost of
logistics services and the lack of skilled
workers in the industry as a whole.
Failure to address this, on a rapidly
growing continent, can be detrimental
to Africa’s trade capabilities so it makes
perfect sense that the solutions to
address such a challenge should be
home-grown.
And this is exactly what GE and Transnet
have considered and it is for this reason
that they have partnered to digitise
Africa’s transport sector. Their proposed
plan will deliver a digital solution
that will seamlessly connect shippers
and transport operators, making it
dramatically easier for a company to
understand pricing and capacity on the
network, plan a shipment and get their
goods to market.
human trafficking and money
laundering for example.
Through such a partnership it is evident
how co-creation has the potential
to truly shift how companies and
organisations approach a common
goal and, by drawing on the strengths
of all stakeholders involved, it results in
a win–win outcome for everyone. We
must remember, solutions to the world’s
most pressing problems cannot reach
scale in silo.
Addressing the needs and requirements
of citizens across the continent has
become fundamental in an Africa 4.0
environment that looks to unlock the
potential of emerging technologies
specific to the unique requirements of
the continent.
To be sure, this is an ambiguous time;
the crossroad between the past and
the future; the risk and reward. We
cannot truly predict how the future
will unfold, but we can be prepared
by being open to change and having
the right conversations. By analysing
the data, opening up platforms, co-
creating with like-minded customers,
start-ups and universities and
challenging the status quo, we open
ourselves up for change, innovation
and possibility, and that’s exactly what
we at Thomson Reuters are doing.
At the end of last year, Thomson
Reuters Labs launched a Cape Town
location joining others around the
world to connect the best information,
intelligence and professional expertise
with developers, entrepreneurs and
other like-minded individuals.
There is an evolution happening and
we must accept and participate in it if
we are to succeed and realise the vision
of Africa we want to create. These are
exciting times where we can combine
the African spirit of entrepreneurship
with global best practice and a
uniquely local way of thinking. In many
respects, this combines the best of all
worlds with technology innovation as
the glue to grow the opportunities on
the continent. n
This digital solution will be key in
optimising freight efficiency and
bringing products to market faster and
for less cost across the continent.
This co-creation is born from a near
decade relationship; one that started
small and through trust and the
understanding of what strength in
combined capabilities can achieve,
has grown substantially where today,
the planned partnership will further
strengthen the already existing
relationship and tackle the complex
challenge of Africa’s supply chain.
This in itself is a massive step in the
right direction in not only changing
the transport sector in Africa, but the
repercussions of a more streamlined,
transparent and digitised supply-
chain has the potential for substantial
social impact, if we consider that more
visibility and transparency in the supply
chain can go a long way in eradicating
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