MATERIALS HANDLING
A sector under pressure to perform Across South Africa’s warehouses, factories, and distribution centres, materials handling fleets are being asked to do more with less. Rising operating costs, tighter margins, and heightened safety and sustainability expectations are forcing companies to rethink how they deploy, manage, and power their equipment. For providers such as Shumani Industrial Equipment, this pressure is translating into a clear focus on efficiency, fleet optimisation, and the rapid evolution of technology. Nemukula says the conversation with customers has changed markedly in recent years. “Customer needs have increased,” he explains. “They want cheaper, good-quality equipment. The days of offering them highly expensive branded equipment are behind us.” This shift is not about compromising on performance or reliability, but about finding smarter, more flexible ways to deliver value over the full lifecycle of the fleet. At the centre of this evolution is a combination of data-driven decision-making, Shumani Industrial Equipment Driving Smarter Fleets Capital Equipment News’ Juanita Pienaar spoke to Shumani Industrial Equipment Managing Director Victor Nemukula about how materials handling providers are responding to rising efficiency demands, accelerating electrification, and the growing role of smart fleet technologies in South Africa.
electrification, and a more hands-on approach to support and maintenance. Fleet optimisation through data and visibility One of the most significant trends shaping the materials handling sector is the growing emphasis on understanding how fleets are actually used. According to Nemukula, efficiency starts with visibility. “So far we’re giving companies tools that allow them to monitor fleet utilisation and safety,” he says. “These allow them to plan properly and manage their costs.” Fleet management technologies have become the most widely adopted digital tools among Shumani’s customers. By tracking utilisation, operators can identify underused machines, peak demand periods, and inefficiencies that would otherwise remain hidden. This data then feeds directly into smarter deployment decisions, helping businesses right- size their fleets rather than defaulting to overcapacity as a buffer against downtime. Beyond technology, Shumani also supports customers with the interpretation of this information. “Apart from technologies, we assist with data for them to make informed decisions on the deployment of their fleet,” Nemukula
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