Crickmay & Associates

08/09/2023

Join Our Team 🏆

If you like data, solving problems, and want to make a difference and help shape the world – we want you!

If you can handle SQL like it's the dashboard of the starship Enterprise, engineer and analyze data as if you're deciphering the Enigma code and understand that Python is a coding language (not material for snappy snakeskin shoes), then we're pretty much ready to hire you!

We'll stretch your skills, expose you to exciting challenges, and occasionally make you feel like you're sipping from a fire hydrant because of the sheer volume of knowledge we'll share.

We're a quirky team who love making a difference with data, adding value daily, working smarter (not harder), and believe that we're only as good as the rest of the team.

For the Non-Quirks:

We're on the hunt for a junior to mid-level data engineer/statistician.

Role:

> Designing, developing, and taking charge of data integration for our valued customers.
> Understanding what our customers need from their data and crafting optimal data structures to meet those needs.

Alternatively, if you're more into data analysis, statistical methods, interpretation, and data visualisation, we're all ears.

Join us on this data-driven adventure, email your CV to [email protected] and let's shape the future together! 😎

12/08/2023

"In fact, according to a recent study by Micro Strategy, companies worldwide are using data:

📊 To boost their processes and cost-efficiency of their operations by up to 60%.

📊 57% of companies have reported using data analytics to drive strategies and change.

📊 52% of companies monitor and improve their financial performance with the help of business analytics." - PPCexpo

Did you know that we offer both Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Data as a Service (DAAS)? That means we can help you put your business data to work for you! 📈

DAAS allows you to easily build and manage your own reporting applications, we just provide the datasets, while PAAS provides you with access to our white label reporting platform and high-quality reports that can help you unlock the abovementioned insights to make more informed decisions about your business.

Contact us to learn more! 📉

07/08/2023

We are excited to announce that a special promotion on our LMS subscription packages has just launched!

Join the many successful businesses who have already seen a positive impact from our subscriptions.

With a 50% discount on our subscription packages, valid for this week ONLY, it is the perfect opportunity to gain more insight into the performance across Southern Africa's borders, routes, corridors and ports.

Head over to www.logistics-monitoring.com NOW and use the discount code: LMS50OFF at checkout to receive 50% off your first 3 months' subscription.

We've outlined the terms and conditions below, so you can review them before making a purchase.

Ts & Cs apply -
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0744/3369/1962/files/LMS_Ts_Cs.pdf?v=1691389271

Take advantage of this limited time offer today.

28/07/2023

We are humbled to receive this recognition and will continue to strive towards delivering exceptional results for our clients. Thank you to all of our partners and resellers for your trust and support. We look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations!

24/07/2023

Softwood Sawlog Costs 💵

The cost of sawlogs in a sawmill is the single highest cost component to a sawmill’s production costs. In South African softwood structural sawmills, Pine sawlogs account for approx. 55% of the total cost of production (excl. admin. and overheads).

If we look at the graph below, it is interesting to see that over the past ten years, when the year-on-year change in the Average Gate Price showed a greater or lesser change, this was followed by a similar trend in the year-on-year change in the Average Delivered Sawlog Cost, albeit with a bit of a lag.



*Source:
Intermill Comparison (Crickmay); a quarterly report, benchmarking the production of softwood sawn timber in South Africa, primarily from sawmills producing long-length structural timber and whose participants produce approx. 80% of the structural sawn board sold into the SA market.

17/07/2023

Having a thorough understanding of trends is essential for making informed choices and maintaining a competitive edge.

As evidenced in this case, our LMS team has recently identified a steady rise in the number of export containers departing from our Durban port. This valuable insight enables us to draw several significant conclusions regarding the export business.

Regarding the specific case of Durban port, the steady increase in the number of export containers over the last five weeks (from 5,271 to 6,369) indicates positive momentum in trade activity and potential economic growth. This trend suggests that businesses in the region are experiencing a rising demand for their goods in international markets. It highlights the port's significance as a gateway for export-oriented industries and underscores the importance of efficient port operations and logistics infrastructure to support trade expansion.

Monitoring and analyzing such trends in export container volumes can provide insights into the performance of local industries, identify emerging market opportunities, and guide policy decisions related to trade facilitation and infrastructure development.

13/07/2023

Your satisfaction fuels our passion to continuously raise the bar in our industry and ensure every client's success!

11/07/2023

Our LMS suggests that South Africa is potentially in big trouble when it comes to maintaining the mantle of being the gateway for trade in Africa.

If we can’t secure our trade routes, as highlighted by the recent truck attacks on the N3 and N4 we will drive business away from our country, impeding our ability to create much needed jobs.

Cost and time are often the main considerations when it comes to moving goods through Africa. However, geo-political related security events threaten the safety of conveying goods thus impacting transport corridors and countries.

This very notion is raised by Mr Gavin Kelly, chairperson of The Road Freight Association (RFA) on 9 July 2023, response to recent trucks attacks on the N3 and N4, " South Africa’s “Gateway to Africa” status has been lost and these attacks will further cement the move of transit freight from South Africa to neighbouring countries. Port revenues will drop, as will income through all support and related freight logistics users."

The Logistics Monitoring System (LMS), using Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) data, highlights the risk of these regional security events on the movement of goods, along transport corridors, in the below graphic. It is clear that land locked African countries have alternatives to South Africa.

04/07/2023

With the help of the RTMS Steering Committee, Crickmay just completed development of a weekly mill report showing uncoded and overloaded deliveries at mills across South Africa.

Here is some of the (unprompted) feedback we received from stakeholders:

“Thank you for all the efforts, this is a very informative report.”
- Jonathan Gounder

“Thank you for the information, the report is helpful.”
- Senzo Mahlinza

“Many thanks for the report of uncoded vehicles at FX.”
- Jim

“Thank you for confirmation of the Uncoded Vehicles.”
- Pradeep Badul

03/07/2023

Border Crossing Times in South Africa

The Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, told the National Council of Provinces of a massive overhaul at the border posts.

The turnaround times of trucks at some of the South African borders shows that these interventions are clearly needed, we hope that the Department’s efforts will have an impact on these measures. LMS tracks borders in near real-time and has data dating back to 2017.

To view all the borders tracked by our Logistics Monitoring System, follow the link below:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0744/3369/1962/files/LMS_Borders_Tracked_List_April_23.pdf?v=1687959315