The launch of Empty Trips, the innovative digital freight exchange platform, took place over five months ago. We caught up with Andrew Crafford, on his learnings since he joined Empty Trips in February 2022 and how the offering has evolved to be responsive to market requirements.
Logistics/Transport/Trucking is definitely the sector for me as it is dynamic, exciting and it’s rewarding knowing that I have something to do with getting products to where they are needed most. My long career in logistics spanning over 35 years, sparked this passion. For 13 of these years, I ran my own fuel sales and distribution company in the Western Cape. Essentially, I owned and drove trucks. After that, I spent more than 22 years in the corporate environment working with Cargo Carriers and Imperial Logistics on the operational and sales function sides.
2. What is Empty Trips and why should the industry take special note of the company?
Empty Trips offers an innovative digital freight exchange platform. Its purpose is to simplify logistics by performing traditional, manually driven logistics functions, digitally. Coming from a strong third-party logistics background, I have the experience and knowledge to understand that embracing digital logistics is the way of the future as it is a lot more efficient and accurate. The industry should take note because besides it being more transparent, efficient and sustainable, new employees coming into logistics jobs will in all likelihood be young tech-savvy people who live in a digital world.
3. What are the most important learnings from your first few months?
Any start-up venture, especially one such as Empty Trips which requires shippers and carriers to embrace innovative technology, requires time to realise its full potential as the maturity level of the market in adopting digitally driven activities and functions is still in the infancy stage. Having a view of the market and engaging with market participants is vital. Our efforts in this area have given us valuable insights into supply chain optimisation needs and where we can demonstrate the value digitisation can add to their business activities.
4. Can you give us a bit of insight into the events taking place that may have had an impact on the industry recently?
Fuel prices plus the effective management of the pricing escalations is always top of mind. Unrest, riots and disruptions continue to plague the transport sector. The risks associated with these as well as the current economic climate is making it hard for some carriers to remain in business. Even some long-established carriers have been forced to close their doors. In times like these, this is where digitisation can play a role in providing the efficiency and visibility to make decisions quicker and prevent waste or inefficient practices. Our digital freight exchange platform is designed to help with this as a carrier can auction the truck space available to prevent them standing over or running empty.
5. Empty Trips has a large focus on sustainability. Is this an area that the industry needs to have a bigger focus on, going forward?
Sustainability needs to become top of mind in the road freight logistics environment and while this is not immediately top of mind, shippers and carriers are taking note. We believe that through the Empty Trips platform which targets the reduction of empty return legs, we can contribute to a reduction of carbon emissions over time.
6. Innovation: What does it mean to be a digital disruptor and how does the Empty Trips technology address this and provide efficiencies?
To be a disruptor means to bring ‘’a radical change to an existing industry or market due to technological innovation.’’ We will continue to challenge the traditional ways of managing and operating in logistics. As said earlier, the maturity level of the market is still in its infancy stage, but we remain excited to offer the numerous enhancements we are making to our digital platform which is adding more digital functions. Our focus is digital, it is the way we think – we want to be the go-to technology company for digital logistics. Our platform enhancement list has been largely compiled using input from shipper and carrier engagements.
7. What is in store for you and Empty Trips over the coming months?
It is important to continue engaging with shippers and carriers on the benefits that digitisation in the logistics sector can add to their business. With technology at the centre of our business we are also currently in the process of enhancing our platform to offer additional digital services.
