Capital Equipment News January 2018

Reiterating the need to outsource fleets for economic survival

Altech Netstar and Mobileye partner for safer roads Altech Netstar, a subsidiary of JSE- listed Allied Electronics Corporation Limited (Altron), has announced that it is extending its digital product portfolio to include the integration of Mobileye’s vision-based Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS). Mobileye, an Intel Company, is a leading company in the development of vision-based technology for ADAS and autonomous driving systems. The collaboration is also in partnership with Road Eye Systems, an official Mobileye distributor in South Africa. Altech Netstar offers a wide range of digitally-connected fleet and telematics solutions into Africa and Australia. “The addition of the leading-edge ADAS technology to our fleet telemat- ics ecosystem offers our customers advanced driver safety management, by providing drivers with in-vehicle col- lision prevention and mitigation alerts. Driver behaviour and trend analysis is available online through our telematics platform in support of continual safety improvement programmes,” says Harry Louw, MD of Altech Netstar. Mobileye’s technology is used in over 20 million vehicles globally. Mo- bileye’s vision-based collision avoid- ance system assists drivers by alerting them prior to a potential accident or danger on the road. The visual and audio alerts allow the driver enough time to react and avoid or mitigate the potential collision altogether.

Outsourcing fleets during economic challenges could save businesses cash flow and mitigate risk. According to the latest figures from the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (SAVRALA), the South African fleet industry is still showing single-digit growth of between 1% and 4% – despite the current economic downturn. At the base of this forward momentum, is an outsourced fleet management industry that is not only saving costs for fleets across the country, but mitigating risk amid a challenging operating environment. “The Rand’s depreciation against major currencies has had a negative impact on the import of vehicles and parts into South Africa,” explains Mkhuseli Setuse, executive at Bidvest Bank’s Fleet Finance and Management Division. “While these challenges persist, we believe the future remains positive. Cost efficiencies for any business should be a priority and partner- ing with a Fleet Management business that has the necessary expertise to assist in achieving the cost efficiencies makes a huge difference.” Currently, corporates, investors and business owners are holding onto their cash, rather than reinvesting in assets. The approach is the same when it comes to their fleets – which results in extend- ing the periods in which they drive their vehicles. But, as Setuse explains, while this may seem like a cost cutting initiative in the short term, in the long term, prolonged use of any business asset, especially vehicles, has a knock-on effect on maintenance and service-related costs. This often results in increased major

component failures as fleets depreciate. Specialised Fleet Management businesses, like Bidvest Bank’s Fleet Division, manage fleets to ensure that their business customers’ objectives are met in the most optimal and efficient manner. “Our experience allows us to make recommendations to customers on procurement, tyre spend, maintenance, service-related costs and, through driver behaviour, fuel-spend,” he says. “We are also able to mitigate risk by advising customers on how to modify user and driver behaviour.” A good example of this, he adds, is achieving a reduction in costly and premature tyre replacements simply by managing the tyre pressure in heavy commercial fleets. Tyre Pressure Manage- ment Programmes for some Bidvest Bank customers have demonstrated a 30% increase in tyre life cycles, and a 60% reduction in spend. b

Mkhuseli Setuse, executive at Bidvest Bank’s Fleet Finance and Management Division.

CILTSA’s fully-funded training programme for women in transport and logistics The first-ever Candidacy Programme was launched recently when 30 women in the transport and logistics industries were officially enrolled by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa (CILTSA). Through funding from the Transport President Elvin Harris. “We need more women professionals. The CILTSA Candidacy Programme is the start of something really good and long term. The responsibility is on all of us to make it work.”

totally amazed,” says Charles Dey FCILT, the Institute’s Professional Development Champion and one of the Candidacy Selection Panel members. “This is the beginning of an exciting initiative that CILTSA hopes to take a very long way.” “This is the first project of its kind – and the only one within TETA,” says Ingrid du Buisson, executive officer of the Freight Handling Chamber at TETA. “TETA is excited to be a part of this ground-breaking initiative and is very much a part of this journey. The flagship project is significant – it is the start of the much-needed recognition and professionalisation of the supply chain industry.” b

“The beauty of this CILT qualification is that it is international,” adds Harris. “The Institute has a presence in over 33 countries, which means that the candi- dates will have a qualification that is portable across the globe. The pro- gramme is both theoretical and practical – something essential in today’s world.” CILTSA is impressed by the standard of the entrants. “Their humour, their hunger for knowledge, their passion – we were

Education and Training Authority (TETA), CILTSA will train 30 employed women in the International Certificate in Logistics and Transport (CILT) qualification, which will also lead to a professional, interna- tionally-recognised designation for the successful candidates. “We know there is a huge skills gap in transport and logistics – it is still very much male-dominated,” says CILTSA

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