Top Logistics Achievers – Savino Wins Silver Award

Global logistics and forwarding company Savino Del Bene South Africa has been awarded Silver in the annual Logistics Achiever Awards 2010.

This award recognises professionalism and excellence in the effective application of strategic, tactical, and operational logistics and supply chain management principles, concepts, and practices in Southern Africa.

Savino Del Bene’s silver award was is based on a unique electronic warehousing solution developed by the company for Nissan South Africa. The solution is tailored specifically for automotive industry applications, and is fully SARS compliant, bringing world class standards to Southern Africa.

The combined benefit of identifiable audit points in the system supported by business rules and total visibility to both the client, as well as to SARS, creates a strong risk profile which benefits SARS and traders, whilst enhancing trade in a cost effective manner.

The fully automated process is more efficient and simpler than existing manual systems, and achieves substantial cost savings for the automotive industry. The system is driven by high-level IT systems; integrated with people, interfaces, time lines and processes to create a very strong risk profile.

The emphasis is on the goods and not on the physical, locked fence scenario. Therefore, the tax status is attached to the goods, and not to premises or a physical warehouse.

The foundation of the electronic bond store is total visibility in the supply chain. It is managed with specific tools such as a tariff management module; management of all IRCC and MIDP claims; “hand shake” interfaces between Nissan and SBDSA, and SARS reports with various audit tools and website visibility. 

In effect, the electronic warehousing solution allows computerised clearing and the generation of bills of entry without the imported goods having to be held in a dedicated, third-party bonded warehouse.

Instead, the goods are transported directly to the client warehouse, allowing quicker access to the goods, while the necessary documentation, including bills of entries and SARS releases, are centrally obtained via an electronic bond store.

By allowing the free flow of imported vehicles, and parts and accessories, the system reduces the clearing process by up to three days. The reduced time periods afforded by the electronic bond store system will be very beneficial and will ensure compliance with the reduced timelines as proposed by the Draft Customs Control Bill, which proposes that imported goods must be cleared within three days of arrival.

The Draft Customs legislation as a whole has reduced time periods for compliance to force goods to move more quickly through the supply chain. In line with this, the electronic bond store  allows the vehicles, parts and accessories to reach dealers much quicker than before, while the electronic clearing process reduces human error and therefore risk and lowers the  administrative burden therefore enhancing the supply chain movement.

The system allows the tax status to be linked to the imported product, rather than a location.  Accurate audit trails per vehicle and P&A shipments are automatically generated, and detailed monthly reports are provided. The system can be managed according each individual client’s requirements and business methodology.

SARS is moving forward rapidly with its modernisation drive, which includes the concepts of compulsory electronic communication and releases. The electronic bond store is in keeping with these concepts and is the way of the future: it has already been implemented in the and the .

According to Savino Del Bene SA’s financial director, Juanita Maree, the electronic warehousing solution has been of substantial benefit to Nissan SA. “Since adopting the system, Nissan has achieved major benefits in terms of warranty savings, interest savings and export savings, while it has also benefited from reduced administration and a reduction in obsolete/destroyed stock.”

On a broader level, the Electronic Bonded Warehouse solution is not only limited to motor industry applications, but opens the door to a new level of efficient, cost-effective clearing for the trade, Maree adds.

“The time has come to implement this solution as a standard in the automotive industry as a whole, while also extending it to other industries and warehouse types, so that all parties can reap the system’s proven benefits,” she concluded.

For more information contact:

Francois van der Vyver

Savino Del Bene () Head office

Tel: 011 437- 3000.