11 September 2025, Johannesburg ,Yesterday, CtrlFleet’s co-founder Renko Bergh had the privilege of speaking at the Transport Forum, where the theme was Innovation in Last-Mile Logistics. The event brought together logistics leaders, e-commerce stakeholders and transport experts to explore how the final stretch of delivery is evolving, especially in the South African context.

Why This Matters

Last-mile logistics has become a central concern for businesses of all sizes. As online shopping booms, customer expectations sharpen: fast delivery, real-time updates, secure handovers, and seamless returns are no longer “nice to haves” but essential. Yet, delivering on these demands introduces new pressures on cost, infrastructure, and operations.

Key Insights from the Presentation

Renko’s talk unpacked several themes from the presentation, including:

• E-commerce Acceleration: The rapid rise in online retail has already pushed South Africa past R71 billion in online retail in 2023, with growth observed both in volumes of orders and innovation in delivery channels (e.g. parcel lockers).

• Challenges on the Ground: Urban congestion, electricity supply constraints, unreliable address systems, and security concerns were flagged as major obstacles. These aren’t just inconveniences, they can add cost, delay deliveries, and hurt customer trust.

• Technology & Innovation: Tools like AI-driven route optimisation, predictive analytics, automated exception management, real-time tracking, and digital proof of delivery (ePOD) are no longer futuristic, they’re becoming operational imperatives.

• What Customers Value: Transparency, predictability, and choice. Being able to know when a package will arrive, track it live, and have options (eg, via smart lockers or flexible delivery windows) creates competitive advantage.

Implications for Transport & Logistics in South Africa

For operators, retailers, and logistics service providers, innovation isn’t optional, it’s needed to keep pace. Some of the key takeaways:

• Invest in digitisation. A platform that offers visibility, real-time tracking and workflow automation reduces friction.

• Optimise operations. Fleet utilisation, route planning, and exception handling are key levers to lower cost and improve service.

• Think customer-first. Transparency and reliability build loyalty; missed or late deliveries cost more than just money.

• Collaborate & plan for infrastructure gaps. Address systems, security, and energy constraints require systemic solutions. Smart public-private collaboration will help.

CtrlFleet’s Role

At CtrlFleet, we believe our platform aligns closely with these emerging needs:

• We empower end-to-end visibility: from scheduling to proof of delivery.

• Our tools automate many of the repetitive tasks and help manage exceptions proactively.

• We help clients adapt to customer expectations around transparency and speed.

Looking Ahead

The last mile of logistics in South Africa is at an inflection point. Rising consumer demand, evolving technology, and systemic constraints will continue to push change. The key will be leaders who are willing to adopt new tools, rethink traditional processes, and stay adaptable.

Download the presentation below to read more.