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PMR's Editorial philosophy:
"It is only by standing on the shoulders of
giants that I have been able to see further."
Sir Isaac Newton,
1642–1727
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Freight Forwarders – Profile – Safcor Panalpina
Enjoying the journey
Hendrina Westoll
Recognised consistently by its own staff in the Deloitte Best Company to Work For Awards as an employer of choice and acknowledged in the marketplace by its industry peers as a superlative company, Safcor Panalpina is adding to the acclamations already framed on its trophy wall.
Managing Director Pete Williams lays considerable emphasis for this success not only on the intrinsic values of the company, but particularly on the way they are implemented. “We take them very seriously. We believe fundamentally in the growth of our nation, our clients and staff and, in fact, consider our staff as investors in the company – they have the right to obtain a good return on that investment, not only in terms of financial rewards, but also in personal growth and fulfilment.”
Staff have no doubt that individual development is expected and that every opportunity to achieve it is made available. It is one of the ways in which Safcor Panalpina is walking the skills shortage/transformation ‘tightrope’, with great success. Each year, the organisation studies employee and peer ratings and uses results as benchmarks. “Deloitte, PMR and the Corporate Research Foundation are invaluable resources that help us improve practically and realistically year-on-year.”
A wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bidvest Group Limited and global partner of Panalpina World Transport Group, Safcor Panalpina is determined to maintain and even improve its world-class standing. “I believe we have proven that we are in the business for the long haul. We implement our principles of true interdependence, open and honest communication, integrity and pure enjoyment of the journey with all our stakeholders,” Williams points out.
Active on six continents through 500 offices and some 90 countries, Safcor Panalpina specialises in international supply chain management and consulting services, system integration, customs clearing, forwarding, logistics and financial services. Its new 20 000 square metre warehouse at OR Tambo International Airport links it seamlessly into the airfreight system, providing an efficient and high-security TAPA ‘A’ accredited (Transported Asset Protection Association) environment for goods coming into and out of the country. “We have branches in all the major commercial ports and that ensures a good mix between the local and international networks to guarantee a genuinely global supply chain of seamless motion.”
Safcor Panalpina handles all freight work up to abnormal loads of hundreds of tons, providing innovative, value added and flexible supply chain solutions. It specialises in certain industry verticals, namely Telecommunications, Hi-tech, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Oil and Gas, FMCG and Mining.
The unpredictable nature of the exchange rate is currently posing challenges to long-term strategy, Williams explains. “Though that can be beneficial in some ways, it damages our manufacturing base if the country imports products rather than manufacturing them. I believe flexibility, innovation and ingenuity are now vital if our economy is to find effective solutions to this and to infrastructure constraints.
“As a nation, though, I am confident that we can tap into a tremendous amount of potential. The challenge is having the courage to believe in it and make it happen, as opposed to slipping into easy negativity. We simply cannot afford to give up this battle. We must reach down into ourselves to find the courage and confidence to continue making long-term decisions in the expectation that we will manage the hurdles we face now. Otherwise, our negativity will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
True to its firm belief in the future, Safcor Panalpina pours considerable investment into education, supporting schools and providing bursaries at various levels. “We feel that the best benefits of corporate sponsorship lie in educational opportunities which, of necessity, require a long-term involvement. We fully intend continuing to contribute to our country’s socio-economic growth for many a decade yet – Safcor Panalpina is almost ready to celebrate its first centenary – and we have every intention of doubling that record.”
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