About: Luani Matthyser

| 01 October 2022

WE ARE COMPLIANT AND INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED

For Alistair Group, having certified employees helps reduce turnover, accidents and injuries, and prevents customer service problems. It also leads to improved staff efficiencies, improved availability and risk mitigation, superior business agility and improved productivity and reduced cost.

At Alistair Group a training-needs analysis is conducted for every employee and the appropriate training is identified concerning the employee’s roles and responsibilities. The training that employees receive is both technical and non-technical. All technical training for employees is loaded onto the Alistair Group Technical Training Matrix. Our training is conducted by our internal training specialists while other training, which requires external certification, is conducted by British Safety Council, Residual Risk Management, NEBOSH, IOSH and SGS. We have a training curriculum for drivers that covers Defensive Driving Training, Dangerous Goods Handling, Load Security, Safety at Work, First Aid etc.

Alistair Group Training Certifications

We have a training curriculum for drivers that covers a wide range of how to handle specialized cargoes such as  Sodium Cyanide, Hydrogen Peroxide, Hydrochloric Acid, Activated carbon, Emulsion, Explosives, Cobalt Hydroxide, Radioactive Material, Sodium hydroxide, sodium metabisulphite, granular sulphur, sulphuric acid, Lithium manganese dioxide batteries, ammonium nitrate. 

Alistair Group Training Matrix and in progress Training

Our training curriculum equips our drivers with different techniques to use depending on the cargo to ensure optimal cargo safety as well as how they should conduct themselves during the loading, driving and offloading of the client’s cargo. Furthermore, Alistair Group has taken an extra measure that mandates drivers to take three pictures of the loaded cargo before the trip starts. These pictures are then sent to our project controller who uploads them onto the ‘Cargo Photo – Pending HSSEQ Audit’ database. This allows for our specialists in the HSSEQ department to audit the lashing, cargo distribution, sufficiency of lashing gear, placement of placards etc.

We track all employee training through the Alistair Group Technical Training Matrix and the Driver Dashboard Training Matrix. After initial training, a certificate is awarded to the employee which is valid for 12 months and refresher training is offered at the end of every training year. This has been made easy by our database that notifies us of drivers who will soon be due for a refresher course.

Alistair Group Training Matrix

| 01 October 2022

WE ARE COMPLIANT AND INTERNATIONALLY CERTIFIED

Alistair Group prioritizes the safety and security of our client’s cargo.  We have implemented multiple physical safety and security measures and pride ourselves on being internationally certified.

1. Alistair Group is certified by the International Cyanide Management Institute
2. Our organization is externally audited by an independent certification body in line with certifications for our ISO 9001, 45001 and 14001 certifications. 
3. Our company has valid local licenses to import, handle and transport a variety of cargoes including hazardous cargo. 
4. We have valid licenses from Zambia Environmental Management Agency,  Tanzania Government Chemist Laboratory Authority and South African Police for handling and transporting explosives.
5. Alistair Group is certified by DPS March (Africa) concerning Goods in Transit Security Protocols. 

International compliance and certification is something often discussed at Alistair Group, our Head of HSSEQ answered a few important questions about the topic to shed more light on its importance in our organization:

Why are the above-mentioned certifications and safety standards important?

It helps to maintain, improve and guarantee cargo safety, environmental protection, and safety of other road users during transit and cargo handling. It also acts as a safety benchmark, anything less than the requirements of these certifications is not acceptable. Indicating the extremely high standard to which we hold our HSSEQ operations.

How do our compliance and international certification ensure cargo safety?

The above-mentioned certifications speak to Alistair Group’s standard of operations to ensure cargo safety. Through internal and external audits, the procedures stipulated for cargo safety are assessed according to adequacy and consistency in their implementation. All deviations or non-conformances ascertained from the set-out cargo safety procedures are escalated to the Heads of Departments and rectified to ensure that the certification conditions are met. The certification process sets out the minimum requirements that must be met by the organization to maintain its accreditation status.

Why does our accreditation set Alistair Group apart?

Our cargo is transported across multiple countries, by adhering to the set standards of internationally certified bodies, it enables Alistair Group to comply with individual countries’ regulations with ease as the standards are internationally recognized. 

The requirements that govern the transportation of hazardous cargo by road are complex and organizations that get accredited are subjected to a thorough accreditation process. Thus, Alistair Group’s accreditation from several certification bodies is a clear testament to a well-established and attested management system.

How do we maintain these certifications?

Multiple factors contribute to maintaining accreditation.

• Through internal Audits conducted by trained and certified Internal Lead Auditors.
• Through 100% compliance and implementation of certification conditions – i.e submission of key performance indicators to regulatory bodies.
• Through an internal online tracking system called “Certificates Validity” which sends out automatic reminders on certificate validity.
• Through external surveillance audits by SGS.
• Through internally dedicated departments with trained and competent specialists who enforce certification requirements – HSSEQ and Compliance Department
• Through internal technical training for all employees involved in cargo safety – Drivers, Project Controllers, Driver Management and Loading Supervisors.

 | 01 October 2022

YOUR CARGO IS HANDLED APPROPRIATELY AND WITH CARE

Alistair Group takes all reasonable steps to ensure that any cargo is handled appropriately and with care. Our robust integrated management system has been designed to guarantee that all stages are efficiently executed in line with local and global standards. Our specialists assess potential safety, environmental and quality hazards associated with handling each cargo and ensure that all processes and procedures are adhered to.

Our trucks are supplied with all necessary equipment to transport a range of products including explosives, flammable solids, Oxidizing agents, toxic and Infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosives and other miscellaneous materials. Vigorous inspection processes and advanced asset tracking systems help to establish asset readiness status to load our confirmed cargoes.

Alistair Group Truck Inspection Check List

One of the most effective ways of avoiding damage to cargo is to focus on ‘Defensive Driving‘. Our drivers attend extensive defensive driving courses designed to develop their skills in identifying risks, by increasing their awareness of hazards and developing a safer attitude to their driving by linking risk to accident potential. Drivers are encouraged to use defensive driving techniques such as a positive driver attitude, concentrating on driving, being alert, recognising hazards, watching speed, keeping safe distances and avoiding taking risks.

OUR FUNDAMENTAL COMMANDMENTS IN SECURING LOADS INCLUDE:

1. Before the vehicle is loaded, the driver checks that its load platform, bodywork and any load securing equipment are in sound and serviceable condition.
2. The loading supervisor secures the cargo in such a way that it cannot shove away, roll over, wander because of vibrations, fall off the vehicle or make the vehicle tip over.
3. The loading Supervisor determines the securing method(s) best adapted to the characteristics of the cargo (locking, blocking, direct lashing, top-over lashing or combinations of these).
4. A check is conducted to ensure the vehicle and blocking equipment manufacturers’ recommendations are adhered to.
5. Additionally, checking if the cargo securing equipment is proportional to the constraints it will encounter during the journey. Emergency braking, strong cornering to avoid an obstacle, and bad road or weather conditions all have to be considered normal circumstances that are most likely to happen during a journey. The securing equipment must be able to withstand these conditions.
6. Each time cargo has been (un)loaded or redistributed, drivers inspect the cargo and check for overload and/or poorly balanced weight distribution before starting. Ensuring that the cargo is distributed in such a way that the centre of gravity of the total cargo lies as close as possible to the longitudinal axis and is kept as low as possible: heavier goods under, lighter goods above.
7. Check the cargo securing regularly, wherever possible during the journey. In addition, our professional drivers check the cargo after heavy braking or other abnormal situations during driving.
   Wherever possible, we use equipment which supports the cargo securing such as friction mats, walking boards, straps, edge beams, etc.
8. Ensure that the securing arrangements do not damage the goods transported.
9. Drive smoothly, i.e. adapt your speed to the circumstances to avoid a brisk change of direction and heavy braking. If this advice is followed, the forces exerted by the cargo will remain low and no problems should be encountered.

| 01 October 2022

WE GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR SAFETY

PHYSICAL AND TECHNOLOGY SAFETY MEASURES

According to an article published by Reuters on 27 July 2021, between January and May 2021, at least 66 loads of Copper were hijacked in transit to port destinations – with about 60% of the incidents occurring in South Africa. Since then, the crime syndicates have not taken their foot off the pedal and the transport industry has seen an unprecedented spate of hijackings taking place across sub-Saharan Africa, including DRC, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. This has had long-reaching negative effects, including multiple transporters being forced to shut their doors as a result of the spiralling insurance costs. The latter has also been highlighted in an FTW publication on 24 June 2022.

At Alistair Group we have taken these matters with the seriousness they deserve and have invested time and money into buffering and bolstering up both our physical and technological security measures. These measures allow us to mitigate risk; ensuring that our drivers, assets and client’s cargo is safely and securely delivered to each destination. As such all high-value goods being transported by Alistair Group move under security escort from the loading point right through to the final destination.

Alistair vehicles moving in Convoy Under Security Escort

Besides our no night driving policy, tracking and monitoring systems, all of our vehicles are equipped with panic buttons and we have a dedicated 24/7 tracking team and control room monitoring our vehicles. In addition to this, we have personnel who conduct daily route road patrols and have teamed up with multiple security agencies and logistics partners across South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and the DRC to ensure that we have sufficient security and immediate response services available at all times.

The Alistair Group’s Track and Trace system is a modern, fully web-based platform with real-time status and location information of goods, personnel, and vehicles. This information is available to each client. Each vehicle is equipped with either a single or dual-SIM GPS tracking unit (depending on region/corridor). This allows for the tracking of every Alistair Group vehicle in any country throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. In the unlikely event that both hard-wired/magnetic GPS units and the driver’s phone GPS fail the vehicle will still be manually tracked and location updated by the Alistair Group human tracking team. Our team carries out these updates a minimum of four times a day, using phone/radio updates.

Alistair Group Tracking Team & Telematics

These, and many other, measures have foiled multiple hijacking attempts that Alistair Group has been subject to over the past annum. We will continue to innovate, train our people, invest in technology and collaborate with authorities to ensure that our client’s shipments safely reach their intended destinations.

 | 01 September 2022

MTWARA PORT WAREHOUSING SOLUTION

Alistair Group is excited to announce that we are able to provide customers with unique storage solutions within Mtwara Port in Tanzania. Due to its recent upgrades, the Mtwara Port now boasts additional quayside and laydown area and can now handle over 1,00,000 metric tonnes of import, export or transit cargo per annum. There are three large warehouses, a 680m long quayside and 120,000 sqm of laydown yard. The port is well designed for containers and project cargo.

Alistair Group has a concession for a dedicated covered and laydown area within Tanzania’s Mtwara Port. We offer extremely affordable rental options, nominal port charges and fully certified lifting equipment on site.

We are confident that anyone looking for laydown and storage in the region will agree that Mtwara provides a cost-effective, secure and state-of-the-art solution for our customers.

WHY MTWARA PORT?

Pauline Desmet | Material Handling Lead | 01 September 2022

MORE THAN JUST YOUR AVERAGE EQUIPMENT RENTAL COMPANY

Alistair Group owns the most reliable and best-maintained fleet of material handling rental equipment in the South and East Africa region. Our Equipment rental fleet includes a range of cranes, forklifts, telehandlers and more, with capacities ranging from 3 to 250 tons. 

Alistair Group is more than just your average equipment rental business, we cater to clients who require the use of our equipment for specialised operations in a variety of industries. Material handling equipment is used in all different sectors, from construction to manufacturing to shipbuilding and material loading. While the majority of us associate the uses of this equipment with building construction, there is a whole range of industries and operations that are often overlooked. 

Crane Activities on the barge

Our 250ton crawler crane is currently performing piling works off of a barge in front of Pemba Bulk Terminal in the north of Mozambique. This is part of a series of works planned to continue during the next couple of months and is part of the fabrication scope for our valued client offshore. Our crane will further assist in the assembly of a 400t crane arriving later this year at the facilities.

Turn key camp solutions:

Alistair Group recently offered a one-stop-shop solution, including the supply and delivery of furnished modular units and the installation/ execution of civil works, to a construction client in Temane. The scope of work includes running services (internet, waste management, rental of generator) for four months. This offers our clients an all-in solution, ensuring they can focus on their core activities, whilst Alistair Group provides the supporting services they need to execute the job. 

The project was delivered within the timelines requested and without any incidents on site (big congratulations to the team!). The modular units themselves were prefabricated in our Alistair Temane facilities. After prefabrication, the units were delivered to the client’s site and positioned using our 65t rough terrain crane.  If you need a turn-key service, give us a shout!

 Full Service Logistics Base

Alistair Group services a range of clients from multiple industries. One of our clients within the Energy sector required an all-in logistics base solution that we were able to assist with. The project is still ongoing as we complete the full design, construction and management of all operations of the base in Northern Mozambique. The work includes the construction of warehouses, installation of overhead cranes, concrete slabbed laydown area, erection of fences and offices, and more. After the construction is completed, Alistair Group is responsible for managing and executing all (complex) lifting activities done at the site, including the overall housekeeping activities. 

 01 August 2022

TILENGA AND EAST AFRICAN CRUDE OIL PIPELINE (EACOP) PROJECT

OVERVIEW 

Alistair Group, in partnership with Geomechanics, were contracted by TOTAL in 2018/2019 to conduct the geotechnical survey for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. The scope included investigations along the Tanzanian portion of the pipeline from Mutukula up to Tanga Port. The geotechnical survey findings were incorporated into the design and construction of the 1 443km pipeline. The fieldwork in Tanzania commenced in October 2018 and ended in May 2019. The investigation sites in Tanzania were spread across the entire pipeline route. 

ALISTAIR GROUP’S RESPONSIBILITY:

Alistair Group provided logistics support and fleet management services for the geotechnical survey. We provided vehicles, qualified personnel, community engagement services, refrigerated transport, lifting equipment, and management of over 100 vehicle movements across the pipeline route.

Below is a breakdown of the customised technology-driven services Alistair Group provided for this project:

1. Track and Trace, utilising GPS units on each vehicle, driver phone GPRS tracking strict radio communications and controls
2. Digital Journey Management of our own and subcontractors’ fleet
3. Fuel Management
4. Workshop (Preventative Maintenance)
5. Driver Management
6. QHSE Management
7. Training and On-Boarding
8. Implementation of Pre-use Checklists
9. Local Content Tracking
10. Digital Registers for Community Liaison/Resettlement

THE CHALLENGE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

This project did not come without a set of unique challenges that Alistair Group had to resolve with innovative and forward-thinking solutions. We pride ourselves on our ability to utilise technology in a “technologically-dark” geography to make our customers work better and provide extensive visibility into their operations.

Below is a breakdown of the top challenges Alistair Group faced whilst executing this project and an overview of the solutions we implemented to overcome them:

1. QHSE

The safety standards for this project were very stringent and determined by TOTAL’s international regulations. The project was held in a remote location and included other entities that were not accustomed to the Oil & Gas operations requirements.

Our solution:

• We implemented a paperless QHSE, route and driver management system
• Alistair Group developed and implemented a zero accident policy and documentation that was followed during all operations. This policy outlines guidelines to prevent risk and accidents.
• We conducted random breathalyzer testing on all personnel
• Daily Driver Briefings were held including Daily Safety meetings
• Safety and First Aid training was conducted to prepare personnel for potential accidents that could occur due to the rough terrain they were conquering, the isolated environment we were operating in and any natural and man-made hazards that potentially could occur.
• In all of its projects, Alistair Group and Geomechanics take responsibility for the environment very seriously. In this case, all drill muds and used water were safely collected and removed from the site and all sites were fully rehabilitated after completion.

Achievements

• There were zero safety incidents reported during 120, 000 man-hours. 
• Waste reduction as minimal physical documents were produced.

2. FLEET MANAGEMENT

The operations required a large fleet to perform several trips to different locations per day in a remote location (averaging 15 trips a day per vehicle). This scope introduces a variety of logistical challenges in regards to fleet planning, maximising a driver’s time, fuel management, visibility, tracking of passengers and personnel location and more. 

Due to the size of the fleet needed Alistair Group utilised our own fleet as well as subcontractors’ fleet to execute the scope. This introduced a series of its own challenges as 24/7 status awareness of the trip was essential.

Our solution:

• We developed an in-house system specifically tailored to the client’s needs with the following main features:
  1. Active Journey Management building on GPS but also introducing radio controls
  2. Paperless digital Checklist
  3. Mobile APP (accessible to drivers, workshop team, fuel team and management) to send/receive their daily tasks, check-lists and critical communications
  4. A web-based platform where the client can access all real-time trip updates.
• We conducted daily in-person driver briefings and safety meetings to review the objectives of the day and to rehash the safety requirements when transporting cargo or personnel.

Benefits of our Solution

• Our digital solution was highly acclaimed by all stockholders as it allowed for 
  1. Avoidance of using physical documentation (waste reduction, eliminating a convoluted filling system)
  2. Real-time Trip Updates including off-route, speeding and harsh braking alerts
  3. Controlled operating environment

Luani Matthÿser | Marketing Coordinator | 01 August 2022

ALISTAIR GROUP PROVIDES VISIBILITY IN AFRICA

A decade ago customers were happy if their shipment arrived in the correct month, in 2022 they want to be a part of their cargo’s progress 24/7, 365 days a year. Today’s business requirements demand to know the exact dates, times and locations of their cargo throughout its journey. This sense of visibility is known to be challenging in Africa due to the lack of physical and electronic infrastructure. These challenges have not hindered Alistair Group’s ability to deliver. 

Logistics starts and ends far beyond the point where our client’s cargo is on our trucks. Alistair Group provides visibility of our client’s cargo on a per bundle basis, throughout the supply chain, from supplier to point of final destination. Alistair Group’s systems and technology allow our clients to receive live updates of the status of their cargo at all times. There is visibility throughout the entire cargo journey, which in most instances, is seen to be impossible in Africa. At Alistair Group our clients are our top priority and we focus on making Africa work better!

Continue reading to see a breakdown of how Alistair Group is able to provide this level of visibility.

ALISTAIR GROUP CUSTOMER DASHBOARD

The visibility that Alistair Group provides is all possible due to our Customer Dashboard. Alistair Group has an internal online reporting system. This system allows our client to track the real-time status of every shipment and access different reports such as; Current Movements, Consolidations, Delivered Cargo / Completed Trips, Truck View, Clearance View and Warehousing Status.

These reports are customizable as per the client’s request and are key for our clients to understand the progress of every active shipment. Reports usually include the following information:

• Client’s PO number
• Description
• Cargo Status
• Last Update
• Truck details
• Current Location
• Origin
• Destination
• Loading date
• Estimated Delivery Date
• Dispatch date
• Trip Number
• PO received Date
• Packing List
• Road Manifest
• Supporting Docs
• Quarantine
• Cargo Photos
  

Our Customer Dashboard is developed internally, making it possible to accommodate any agreed metrics and performance indicators. We are well equipped for Supply Chain Management and have the expertise and Technology in place to ensure we do not miss a detail. 

ALISTAIR GROUP CUSTOMER DASHBOARD

1. PORT

Prior to dispatch from origin, details and relevant documentation for any project shipments will be uploaded by suppliers onto a web portal.  If large shipment volumes necessitate it, information can be fed directly from any freight forwarders tracking system into the Alistair Group Customer Dashboard through an application program interface (API).  While en route to the entry port all incoming shipments are monitored by our tracking team. The tracking team monitors ship AIS data 4-times daily to update stakeholders (clearance team, operations team, and client) of the ship’s current location and estimated arrival time at port. Once goods arrive at the port in Africa (e.g. Mombasa/Dar es Salaam/Durban/Walvis Bay) our tracking, clearance and warehousing teams continue to monitor and update shipments until goods are placed on a truck.

2. CLEARING & FORWARDING

Alistair Group offers the most proficient customs clearance solution in the region. Alistair Group goes beyond the expectations of a service provider, by providing our clients with more visibility of cargo and real-time monitoring from loading to export, and beyond. Our team updates the status of cargo daily. Clients have real-time access to the status of their clearance whether it be “Awaiting Documentation”, “Being Processed,” or “Cleared,”. Additional information is also provided on the Client Dashboard to indicate what steps are being taken to progress to the next clearance stage.

3. WAREHOUSE

Our own cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) is used to provide a fully integrated multi-location solution, and can easily adapt to our client visibility needs. Our WMS is integrated into our Customer Dashboards and allows the clients to track their cargo on a per-bundle basis – providing visibility into each bundle as it arrives at the warehouse and as soon as it leaves. Read more about how this technology works HERE.

4. TRANSPORT (Track & Trace)

Once goods are placed on our trucks and are ready for transport, tracking becomes fully automated by using our track & trace technology. The Alistair Group’s Track and Trace system is a modern, fully web-based platform with real-time status and location information of goods, personnel, and vehicles. This information is available to each client. Each vehicle is equipped with either a single or dual-SIM GPS tracking unit (depending on region/corridor). This allows for the tracking of every Alistair Group vehicle in any country throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.  Currently, the AGT system is tracking hundreds of assets in over seven sub-Saharan African countries. The Alistair Group Telematics tracking system provides real-time reports, automatic updates, driver behaviour, exception alerts, and reports that include:

• Journey location/status
• PFA
• Departure and delivery
• Out of hours driving
• Over speeding
• Driver performance – harsh acceleration, braking, and cornering
• Route Replay

ALISTAIR GROUP GPS TRACKING SYSTEM

5. TRANSPORT (Tracking Team)

In the unlikely event that both hard-wired/magnetic GPS units and the driver’s phone GPS fail the vehicle will still be manually tracked and location updated by the Alistair Group human tracking team. Our team carries out these updates a minimum of four times a day, using phone/radio updates. The tracking team is tasked with continually updating truck/shipment current locations and immediately escalates any driver issues, delays, breakdowns, or accidents to the operations team for resolution. We have found that with a combination of dedicated IT and Tracking teams we are able to provide complete transparency to both our Operations team and clients about the current location and status of all vehicles/shipments.  We believe that Alistair Group is the only logistics solution provider with the capability to track a fleet uninterrupted through the entire Sub-Saharan region.

ALISTAIR GROUP TRACK & TRACE TEAM

6. FINAL DESTINATION

Alistair Group ensures that our clients are immediately aware of the status of their cargo once it reaches the final destination. This is possible due to our effective and efficient document management system that ensures proof of delivery/goods received documents are sent to clients. Our document management system has the ability to effectively deliver scans of critical documents from our drivers via their mobile phones.  WhatsApp is by far the most popular communication platform our drivers use, and so it was a natural solution to integrate with our system.  Leveraging the WhatsApp for Business API, we were able to quickly integrate and start sending a variety of documents directly to our operations teams as attachments such as:

• Purchase Orders 
• Goods Received Vouchers

Daniel du Plooy | Head of Warehsousing | 04 July 2022

PROTECTING YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN:

Alistair Group Security Measures

Alistair Group prioritises the safety and security of our client’s cargo.  We have implemented multiple physical safety and security measures and pride ourselves on the protocols and technological developments that protect our client’s supply chain holistically. 

PHYSICAL WAREHOUSING SECURITY:

When it comes to warehouse security, it is needed to implement security measures both inside and outside the facility. External-facing warehouse security systems, known as perimeter security, are used to defend entry points and the property line – often focusing on limiting access. Internal warehouse security measures help identify those who have breached the external security measures, focusing on capturing evidence. It’s important to have layered security measures to protect the facility in its entirety. Below is a list of physical safety and security measures Alistair Group has implemented:

• Top of the range Facilities 
  • The quality and standard of our buildings are top of the range.
  • The building infrastructure is in pristine condition and we offer indoor/covered storage solutions to minimise the risk of theft and weather damage.
• Approved Warehouse 
  • With many of our clients’ cargo being financed from Europe and maintaining ownership of the cargo till exported, it’s important to ensure all banks are familiar with our live stock systems, giving them peace of mind that data is accurate at all times. 
  • Alistair Group is an approved warehouse for all major trade finance banks. 
• CCTV 
  • Alistair Group has CCTV integrated cameras throughout all facilities in DAR and Durban with visibility over all warehouse spaces, yard spaces, entry gates and weighbridges 
  • CCTV monitoring, allows us to readily monitor even the remotest areas of our warehouse— always being alert to what’s going on throughout the facility. 
• Security SOP (Standard operating procedure)
  • Alistair Group has developed and implemented security SOPs to manage all truck, staff and cargo movement both receiving and dispatching/packing of cargo.
  • These SOPs include:
    • High-value metals/minerals receipt into warehouses 
    • High-value metals/minerals export packing 
    • Gate security procedure (receiving/dispatch)
    • Port shunt and escorting high-valued metals and minerals
• Security Personel
  • We have visible security on site 24 hours to monitor all operational movement throughout the yard space, night operations and warehouse operations.
  • CCTV is an effective way to remain informed however we prefer to also have feet on the ground to provide heightened industrial security.
• Alarm Response And Verification
  • All Alistair Group facilities are fitted with alarm systems and response units on stand bye from a third-party security company.
  • Our Alarm systems are accompanied by protocols stipulating how to respond promptly to any alarms that go off, and to verify when there is a real security threat.
• Secure Entrance Points
  • Due to the high volume of feet that commonly enter our warehousing facility, es individuals and trucks have to through our controlled entry points. At each point of entry, the identification and verification documentation of each driver and truck is assessed before access to our warehouse is granted. These records are monitored and stored should they be required in the event of an incident.

SECURITY IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN:

When talking about security it is important to delve into the topic of visibility. To ensure the utmost security of cargo we would need constant and controlled visibility of the cargo as it moves through the supply chain. Alistair Group has developed and implemented a multitude of security measures that heightens our and our client’s visibility of their cargo. Giving them the ability to constantly monitor live updates of the cargo’s whereabouts. This technology has allowed Alistair Group to reduce human error and man-hours required to operate in a timely and effective manner.

Our own cloud-based Warehouse Management System (WMS) is used to provide a fully integrated multi-location solution, and can easily adapt to our client visibility needs. Alistair Group technology allows for the tracking of our client’s cargo on a per-bundle basis – providing visibility into each bundle throughout the stages of transportation. We provide our clients with real-time reporting and alerting (including an advanced report builder), as well as bar code scanning for rapid and accurate check-in / out of inventory items. A lot of our resources have been focused on developing this visibility and getting our dashboards to intuitively provide real-time information which is accurate and dependable; providing our customers with ease of mind about the safety, security and warehouses of their cargo.

The main two areas of visibility that Alistair Group provides our clients:

• Live warehouse management systems 
  • Live warehouse management systems showing real-time receiving and removing of cargo throughout all our facilities. Read more about it HERE.
• Fully integrated logistics
  • Fully integrated logistics between road, warehouse and vessel with 100% of Alistair cargo moving from our trucks to the warehouse to port. Tech integration ensures clients always have live data of where their cargo is in the chain and where it transitions from different modes of transport into the warehouse.  Read more about it HERE.

 | 01 June 2022

FLEXIBILITY AND VISIBILITY ON A PER-BUNDLE BASIS 

With the industry being unpredictable and unforeseen circumstances constantly skewing logistics operations in Sub Saharan Africa it is extremely important for our clients to have flexibility and visibility in terms of the movement of their cargo. Last-mile delivery is becoming commonplace and the solution to this starts with digitization. Alistair Group’s Digital transformation goes beyond installing GPS-powered tracking systems. We ensure our transportation and logistics networks functions as an ecosystem; gaining access to the visibility needed to optimize routes and shipping processes. Alistair Group is able to identify the fastest routes and most efficient modes of transportation to provide cost-effective rates. This allows us to transition our client’s cargo to the most cost-effective and efficient corridor on a flexible basis.

Working hand-in-hand with our Technology department Alistair Group has recently implemented new technology that allows us to track our client’s cargo on a per-bundle basis. We have visibility of each bundle throughout each stage of transportation. Our technology is moving towards a full blockchain solution with the capability to track the carbon footprint, mine origin, and all transport data in real-time.

Here is a quick overview of how our technology works:

1. Alistair Group has an inbound report which reflects all trucks headed to our warehouse from the different mines. This inbound report reflects the truck details, cargo details as well as estimated date of arrival at our warehouse. Based on this information Alistair Group is able to request the mine packing list and upload all information accurately on our warehouse cargo tracking sheet.
2. When the truck arrives at the warehouse the cargo is already captured on our warehouse cargo tracking sheet. The Alistair Group tally clerk is then able to capture the balance of the data for the cargo on an in-house developed App which directly transfers all the data captured to our warehouse cargo tracking sheet. Here all relevant cargo is given a unique QR code that identifies that bundle or bag cargo by the date received, accurate weight and pictures of the cargo received.
3. The client has access to all of this information via their unique client dashboard. Stock reports are also automated to clients a minimum of 3 times a week. Accurately depicting what stock Alistair Group has in our warehouse and what stock is still in transit.
4. A booking is then allocated to export this cargo to the client in China. Using a Preliminary packing tool on our warehouse cargo tracking database a preliminary packing list is easily created with the tick of a box. This preliminary packing list is sent to the client for approval. An approved BL (Bill of Lading) is obtained.
5. In the final step of the process, the cargo is identified by an Alistair Group clerk using our App and scanning the QR code assigned to that bundle/bag and packed into the container. This process allows Alistair Group to accurately capture the container and seal details, photograph the packed cargo and present all this information to our clients on a consolidated platform.
   After the cargo has been safely stacked on board the vessel a final packing list, as well as a shipped report, is created. The shipped report is sent to the Alistair Group finance team from which the invoice is raised.

This new system is quick efficient and accurate and certainly takes warehousing to a new dimension in terms of progression.

ALISTAIR GROUP TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION

ALISTAIR GROUP WAREHOUSE