Procurement must deliver more than compliance in 2026
South Africa's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contribute around 40% of GDP and employ more than half the country's workforce, according to the Department of Small Business Development, Yet, questions remain about whether billions of rand invested in...
Speed the new competitive currency for supply chains
Supply chain industry body SAPICS hosted its annual Supply Chain Leaders Forum in Sandton as part of the Leaderex event. The summit brought together supply chain management leaders to explore the rising value of speed as the new competitive currency in supply chains....
The rise of robots in the warehouse
The global economy is currently undergoing the biggest technological transformation in history, according to a report by asset managers ARK Invest. The disruptive innovation focused firm says that massive disruption is on its way, including in AI, medical...
DHL and Alibaba.com to offer SMEs AI-powered logistics
DHL Group and Alibaba.com have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the end-to-end logistics experience for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in international trade. The parties intend...
Why many procurement professionals still fear whistleblowing
A global study found that 43% of occupational fraud cases are uncovered through tips, making whistleblowers the most effective source of fraud detection (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, ACFE). Yet, despite their critical role in exposing wrongdoing, many...
Why many procurement professionals still fear whistleblowing
A global study found that 43% of occupational fraud cases are uncovered through tips, making whistleblowers the most effective source of fraud detection (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, ACFE). Yet, despite their critical role in exposing wrongdoing, many...
Africa’s next growth story will be built on connectivity
Africa's trade corridors have long played a vital role in connecting the continent to global markets, writes Jacques Taylor, MD of Tata Africa. The conversation today is no longer about moving exports to ports; there is increasing focus on internal trade corridors,...
AI, healthcare, public sector procurement under the spotlight
Hundreds of supply chain professionals from across Africa and around the world will convene in Cape Town this month to learn, share knowledge and network at the annual SAPICS Conference. Now in its 48th year, this event is more important than ever in a supply chain...
What rising electricity tariffs and slow grid reform mean for supply chains
South Africa may have largely moved beyond the sustained phases of loadshedding that defined recent years, but energy costs continue to climb. In March 2026, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved electricity tariff increases of 8,76% for Eskom...
Businesses are overlooking one of their biggest profit levers
As South African businesses enter the second half of the year, many executives are once again facing the same uncomfortable reality: margins are tightening, costs continue to rise, and consumers remain under pressure. The instinctive response is often to cut budgets,...
Supply chain management a future-proof career
As South Africa marks Youth Month and continues to grapple with high youth unemployment and widening skills shortages, the demand has never been greater for suitably qualified and skilled supply chain professionals. This is the word from supply chain industry body...
Will 2026 be the turning point for SA’s logistics?
South Africa's logistics crisis has come at a significant economic cost. According to synthesis data compiled by The Geography of Transport Systems, based on World Bank and international logistics datasets, logistics costs can account for up to 25% of GDP in...