Page 17 - Logistics News Sept / Oct 2018
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Africa’s Rail System
competitiveness, demanding better and assets, available capacity is maximised and
more integrated logistics, or what we would associated operating costs are lowered.
call digitally transformed supply chains; In addition, IoT enables rail operators
• An increase in the number and size of large to utilise sensors across the rail network
African metropolitan cities requiring new to better passenger movements. When
urban mass transport systems; integrated with a powerful analytics platform,
• New mining developments producing high rail operators can start uncovering trends
volume outputs, driving a need for a higher in passenger movements and predict when
capacity infrastructure capable of handling and where additional capacity is needed.
mining bulk volumes; and By proactively meeting changing consumer
• The existence of landlocked countries with needs, rail operators ensure uninterrupted
poor connectivity to seaports, which require service and improve customer satisfaction,
reliable and high capacity access to the sea. both of which have positive knock-on effects
on profitability.
Leveraging tech to ensure no passenger is
left behind The digital transformation
While trade and economic development is SAP Africa is supporting the digital
critical, attention should also be given to the transformation of Africa’s rail systems by
importance of rail networks in transporting providing the technology tools and platforms
commuters. In many countries, poor rail that bring industry best-practices and
infrastructure and outdated technology exponential technologies together in a single
contribute to extensive delays in passenger seamless framework.
rail networks, with disastrous consequences By implementing a digital core built on
for productivity (among passengers) and SAP HANA and the SAP Cloud Platform, rail
profitability (for the rail operator). While operators get a single access point to better
accelerated rail investment and expansion manage its supplier collaboration, workforce
can be noted across East Africa, the engagement, customer experience and assets
technology and digital transformation and supply chains. Flexible line-of-business
underpinning modern rail systems often come extensions ensure rail operators have the
as an afterthought. technological support to reimagine their
business models, simplify and streamline
Supporting the complex needs of business process and innovate at scale and
consumers and business speed.
Emerging technologies hold immense Railways form the network of
promise in this regard: Transportation interconnected veins that supply the
models that are purpose-built to support the lifeblood of Africa’s economic growth and
increasingly complex needs of consumers development. By ensuring the reliable and
and business in a digital world have certain affordable delivery of people, products
characteristics in common. and commodities across the continent,
Technologies such as IoT supported by Africa’s railways will play a starring role in
advanced analytical capabilities are providing the creation of a connected, prosperous
improved asset utilisation by enhancing continent.
capacity management and equipment With the support of powerful cloud-based
maintenance. By matching equipment platforms, rail operators can provide the
supply to demand in real-time and providing seamless and reliable services that Africa’s
predictive capabilities to improve the increasingly sophisticated consumer and
effectiveness of maintenance on key rail business markets demand. •
September/October 2018 | Logistics News 15
