Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is introducing a new order- to-cash initiative to replace its nine-year-old PortsOnline system, which customers previously used for online submission of cargo documentation.

The State-owned company says the initiative is another step on its “journey to digitalise” the country’s ports operations. The new system is expected to go live in April 2017.

“PortsOnline significantly reduced the manual capturing process and the time taken to conclude the online order processing cycle. The aim now is to cater for the changing needs of TNPA ports and customers by creating a better customer experience through improved visibility across various interactions with the port authority,” TNPA CFO Mohammed Abdool says.

He adds that a formal project team has already started with the design of the new system and, during the course of the next few months, engagements will take place with customers and other stakeholders through existing structures, business forums and customer sessions.

The new technology will provide an e-commerce platform with advanced customer relationship management and electronically enabled customer order management on a single in-memory computing platform powered by the more modern SAP Hana.

Customers will be able to interact with TNPA across various channels, including its call centre and online. The platform also offers self-service functionality for customers, where they can log in, maintain their own profiles, place sales orders, view current credit limits and view and download invoices and statements.

TNPA executive sponsor: technical and CIO information systems Mmutle Lentle says that, similar to the Integrated Port Management System (IPMS), which TNPA introduced last year, order-to-cash will see the ports authority create further visibility of port processes to enable transparency and better integrated planning between all port stakeholders.

Under the R300-billion Transnet Market Demand Strategy, TNPA is investing in various resources and technology solutions to improve the operational performance of its ports.

Recent technology advances include the IPMS, which automates key marine processes across TNPA ports, and the roll-out of port operations centres equipped with advanced information and communication technology systems.

TNPA will also introduce technologies for the management of port interfaces with rail, road and other trading partners in the ports ecosystem at a later stage.

“Global ports must embrace digital technologies and data analytics to remain competitive and to make monitoring, tracking, evaluating and optimising more efficient for both the ports authority and the customer,” TNPA CEO Richard Vallihu says.