From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report.

Sashnee Moodley:

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) officially showcased to guests its expanded 80 000 m² parts distribution centre, in Boksburg, last month. The centre is now the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Marleny Arnoldi visited the site.

Marleny Arnoldi:

The first stage of the distribution centre was built in 2012 and comprised 40 000 m² of space. The second stage, which added another 40 000 m², started with construction in January 2020.

The renamed facility Toyota Africa Parts Centre (TAPC) started operating in April 2021, with an additional 33 000 m² of racks, which required just under 2 000 t of steel.

The new facility consolidates what used to be two warehouses for TSA and allows for more efficient customer service, particularly as the company looks to grow its supply into more African markets.

The TAPC now forms part of five distribution hubs globally covering Toyota’s component distribution.

TSAM president and CEO Andrew Kirby tells us more about the rationale for an expanded facility. 

TSAM president and CEO Andrew Kirby:

Marleny Arnoldi:

The TAPC facility comes complete with solar photovoltaic rooftop capacity of 475 kW, which the company plans on expanding to 1.5 MW by the end of the year.

TSAM also plans on adding battery storage capacity to the building in 2023, which will take the facility off-grid.

The facility comprises inbound, storage, outbound and distribution processes, with TSAM receiving and sorting about 84 000 parts daily, from 220 local suppliers and four international suppliers.

TSAM undertakes daily deliveries to all of its 277 dealers in South Africa and neighbouring countries, including Namibia, Botswana and eSwatini. These trucks travel more than 60 000 km per day.

Kirby unpacks the activities within the facility and the company’s green fleet ambitions to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

TSAM president and CEO Andrew Kirby:

Sashnee Moodley:

During this year’s Tour de France, held in July, information technology company Dimension Data’s Bryanston Campus was used to deliver real-time graphics and digital analysis to the broadcasters of the race, as well as the race organisers. Tasneem Bulbulia has the story.

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Backed by a team data specialists and engineers in the country, this forms part of overall technology solution being provided by Japanese technology multinational NTT, which owns Dimension Data and is technology partner to the Amaury Sport Organisation. Dimension Data Middle East and Africa chief marketing officer Marisa Jansen van Vuuren explains.

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren outlines the process for Dimension Data to get to this point to be able to deliver this solution.

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren outlines some of the benefits that this solution engenders. 

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren highlights new elements that the solution provided this year. 

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren outlines the opportunities that the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, a ladies’ race held following the Tour de France, presented for the solution. 

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren expands on how this solution could be deployed in South Africa

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Tasneem Bulbulia:

Van Vuuren also touches on how people’s privacy has been protected.

Dimension Data MEA CMO Marisa Jansen van Vuuren:

Sashnee Moodley:

That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy. Don’t forget to listen to the audio version of our Engineering News daily email newsletter.