CILTSA Warehousing Conference Sets the Agenda for High-Performance Distribution

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (CILTSA), brought warehouse leaders, technology specialists and supply chain professionals together in Johannesburg on 9 July for its 2026 Warehousing Conference. The event explored how digitalisation, technology and artificial intelligence can turn warehouses into high-performance distribution engines.

Under the theme ‘From Warehouse to High-Performance Distribution Engine, Driving Efficiency through Digitalisation, Technology and AI’, delegates examined the commercial, operational and safety foundations required for resilient logistics operations. It convened decision-makers from across warehousing, transport, technology and services. Mihlali Gqada, Freight Specialist at the Department of Transport, directed the programme.

Mihlali Gqada, Freight Specialist at the Department of Transport 

“This conference put practical collaboration at the centre of the conversation,” commented CILTSA President Elvin Harris. “Our sector can strengthen South Africa’s supply chains when we connect people, data and operational discipline, then turn insight into sustained action.”

Warehouses As a Strategic Engine

Clayton Thomas, Managing Director of Industrial Logistic Systems, opened the half-day programme by setting out why warehouses have become essential to national supply chain resilience. “Good enough no longer carries an operation through rising customer expectations and network pressure,” Thomas pointed out. “Every warehouse has an opportunity to become a responsive distribution engine that protects service, strengthens resilience and creates value.”

Clayton Thomas, Managing Director of Industrial Logistic Systems 

Brian Mudhokwani, Chief Operating Officer at ISB Optimus, focused on the three performance gauges of cost, throughput and accuracy. He encouraged delegates to measure a priority metric with greater rigour and use the resulting insight to guide improvement. “The warehouse is an engine, and cost, throughput and accuracy are its instrument panel,” Mudhokwani said. “Choose one gauge, measure it properly and use that evidence to improve the decisions your team makes every day.”

Brian Mudhokwani, Chief Operating Officer at ISB Optimus

His presentation addressed the value of disciplined warehouse management systems, quality data and connected planning. It also highlighted practical applications for AI, including pick-path optimisation, slotting decisions and predictive insights embedded in workflows.

Flow, Safety and Connected Intelligence

Gerhard van Zyl, Group Operations Director at Professional Group of Companies, examined tactical flow and floor control. He showed how walking, waiting, searching, rehandling and queueing can erode productive time across a facility. “Warehouses achieve more when they design for movement and remove friction,” van Zyl said. “The key question for leaders is why work stops, because every interruption adds cost, absorbs capacity and affects the customer promise.”

Gerhard van Zyl, Group Operations Director at Professional Group of Companies

Greg Naicker, Vice President Operations at Powerfleet, connected safety performance with productivity, uptime and delivery reliability. His session demonstrated how real-time visibility, operator and asset guardrails, AI video and integrated dashboards can identify emerging risks and support proactive decisions.

“Safety data becomes operational intelligence when leaders can see risk patterns across the warehouse, yard and road,” Naicker said. “Connected systems give teams the chance to prevent disruption, protect people and sustain reliable delivery.”

Greg Naicker, Vice President Operations at Powerfleet

The conference closed with a shared commitment to stronger, data-led warehousing capability across South Africa. Delegates left with practical priorities for improving visibility, controlling flow, strengthening safety and building dependable performance.

“CILTSA will continue creating forums where the profession can exchange expertise and advance the capabilities that modern logistics demands,” concluded Harris. “The energy in the room showed that our industry is ready to build smarter, safer and more connected operations together.”

The event was powered by ISB Optimus and Powerfleet and captured expertly by Tendai Mhlanga Photography.

For further information about CILTSA and its professional events, please contact CILTSA.

From L – R: Clayton Thomas, Greg Naicker, Mihlali Gqada, Gerard Van Zyl and Brian Mudhokwani