Article 5:

South Africas surge in trucking thats emerged largely due to higher coal prices and train bottlenecks may lead to catastrophic job losses in the road transport sector when factors ease, according to the head of the state-owned port and rail company. The logistic problems faced by Transnet from locomotive shortages to vandalism have forced miners to choose the more expensive option of trucking commodities to the coast to take advantage of higher prices.That raises concern over what will happen to truck owners in the wake of lower commodity prices and as rail operations improve, Transnet Chief Executive Officer Portia Derby said at a Bloomberg event in Johannesburg. Operators in the sector need to start earnest talks and establish a model that will include truckers long-term. "We have created the demand our failure on one hand and also the demand of the mining industry has created the trucking industry," she said. "For the vast majority of the truckers, they are moms and pops, who when they left work took their pensions and bought a truck because there was an opportunity." Trucks carrying coal and other commodities sit in queues that stretch for miles to the Mozambican border and crowd ports along the coast. The onslaught of traffic in rural areas and towns has created safety issues for the communities as well as drivers. But prices for export coal have dropped more than 50% in the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2022, Exxaro Resources Ltd. reported Thursday in a results statement. "We certainly need to get more more freight off the roads and back on the rail straight to port and in a very streamlined manner," Chiedza Madzima, head of operational risk research for BMI-Fitch Solutions, said at the event. Richards Bay Coal Terminal shipped 50 million tons of the fuel last year, the lowest amount in three decades, due to the rail issues. "I hope our performance is not worse than last year," Derby said. "So we are working really hard to make sure that we at least meet the 60 million tons that we committed to."

Article 6

The global e-commerce revolution has transformed the business landscape. Logistics providers navigating change in South Africa are adapting to new customer expectations. The origin of the e-commerce industry can be traced back to orders being placed from television shows and a landline phone to sell just about anything. The Internet has transformed modern day e-commerce in the way we acquire and interact for goods and services. We have become accustomed to getting anything we want online. In South Africa, the e-commerce market is estimated to reach US$7.2 million and is predicted to grow by 17.9% by the end of 2023. Even previously hesitant online shoppers have adopted e-commerce. The Covid-19 pandemic also accelerated the increase of contactless purchasing, and online shopping sites have become more user friendly. With low barriers to entry, businesses anywhere in the world are now able to trade across borders. Even companies with small production numbers can create a presence online. With the rise of social commerce that can help businesses directly target their desired audience, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are able to compete with retail giants on a global stage. Outside the traditional retail model, costs for e-merchants can be minimized and lower prices can be passed on to consumers. Challenges to logistics adapting to the business landscape Despite being ranked as the 33rd largest economy by per capita GDP, South Africa is only the 42nd largest e-commerce market. This can be attributed to various factors, such as inadequate road infrastructure and sometimes insufficient data. Logistics companies need to overcome such challenges by utilizing GPS systems and robust delivery fleets. Beyond this, unequal access to reliable internet connectivity, limited digital literacy, and low technology adoption rates in certain communities are also address hindering the growth of e-commerce and logistics. There is also growing awareness around environmental issues, and consumers increasingly prefer businesses that prioritize sustainability. At FedEx, we are harnessing the unmatched power of our data insights to increase sustainability throughout the value chain. For instance, FedEx Dataworks is a platform to fuel innovative solutions that help customers solve some of commerces toughest problems while increasing their competitiveness - faster and at scale. This enables us to minimize disruptions, improve customer satisfaction, and mitigate financial risks by enhancing supply chain resilience. FedEx Sustainability Insights is another innovative tool that offers customers access to near real-time emissions data. It is designed to provide new levels of transparency to our customers and create a feedback loop to make our own operations more efficient. Additionally, we have deployed electric vehicles in South Africa along with other markets in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (AMEA) region to meet the demand for fast and efficient service while making progress towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral. As shipments are expected to be fast and efficient, this makes it even more important for e-commerce businesses to be supported by a reliable logistics provider that can expertly manage deliveries and do it in a sustainable manner.Opportunities Logistics is an enabler of e-commerce. Data shows that the cost of transportation represents 50% to 75% of the retail price of goods. With an estimated 5 billion internet users around the world, and a 2022 e-commerce sales sector valued at US$5.7 trillion, this represents a massive proportion of the total value of the e-commerce industry. Logistics and e-commerce exist in a symbiotic relationship and create excellent user experiences from one-click online checkouts to the fulfilment of the order at the customers chosen delivery location. The evolution of e-commerce gives SMEs a unique opportunity not just to boost sales, but also to position themselves for long-term success. However, it is important to realize that competition is stiff. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, SMEs reliant on logistics service providers must be able to offer cost-effective services that combine convenience with speed. To this end, many players are employing innovative technology to deliver more tailored shopping and shipping experiences that help increase their conversion rate. One potential pitfall is the significant gap between SMEs assessment of how theyre meeting customer expectations and how consumers view the experience. Our analysis shows that the biggest gaps occur around having an efficient returns service and access to customer support. The delivery experience can have a critical impact on a small businesss reputation. For this reason, its critical for businesses to work with a logistics partner that can help them adapt to evolving customer expectations and needs. Only then can they thrive.

Article 7

Takealot.com is trialling its first-ever on-demand service, TakealotNow, which will deliver within the hour, exclusively in Cape Town's northern suburbs.During its trial period, TakealotNow will be available specifically in Durbanville, Bellville, Brackenfell, Kraaifontein, Kuilsriver and Parow with further launches planned in the near future. The service offers customers a range of curated products, such as laptops to smartphones, beauty essentials, toys and load shedding, based on what they shop - and need. A section of the Mr D app will be dedicated to the new service, with delivery up to 10pm at night. Quick turnarounds for delivery Online shoppers in South Africa are growing increasingly used to quick turnarounds on delivery for products like groceries and weve seen a steady increase in sales in certain categories when we offer our popular same-day, next-day delivery or collection options, says Frederik Zietsman, CEO at takealot.com, a Takealot Group company. TakealotNOW will enable us to fulfil customers need for products, delivered faster than ever before while offering unbeatable range across categories not yet available in the on-demand world, adds Zietsman. Alex Wrz, Mr D CEO says that TakealotNOW is a brand new customer proposition that aligns with both Takealot and Mr Ds customer-centric strategy to bring effortless convenience that goes beyond food delivery to more South African homes. The proposition opens up the opportunity to scale across the country using our tried and tested distribution network of over 15,000 delivery partners. To shop TakealotNOW, customers in the above areas need simply to download the Mr D app on the App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei App Gallery, and once opened, navigate to the dedicated Shops tab to find the TakealotNOW store.

You are the Head of Strategy for Linebooker. Develop a stakeholder management plan highlighting the key strategic issues regarding key stakeholders. Critically discuss the relevant ecosystem of the freight transport industry and how that should be addressed in a future strategy, also consider the influence of the adjacent online retail industry/market. Apply the most appropriate theoretical models from the textbook as foundation and use case study information in your application.