Blog

Shapingfuture

Join us

Features thought pieces, interviews, reports, analysis, project updates and news from our global team.

Join us
Filter by category
Rail liberalization in South Africa: how structural reform reshapes supply chains and logistics strategies

Rail liberalization in South Africa: how structural reform reshapes supply chains and logistics strategies

South Africa’s trade competitiveness depends on an efficient rail system, but freight volumes have declined since 2017 due to maintenance issues, delays, and vandalism. To address this, the government has liberalized the sector, separating infrastructure management from operations and allowing private operators. The reform aims to boost capacity, reliability, and efficiency, benefiting exporters, manufacturers, and logistics providers, while revitalizing rail transport and reducing pressure on roads.

14 Oct, 2025
Africa's role in global trade: a review of container traffic expansion

Africa's role in global trade: a review of container traffic expansion

The growth of container traffic in Africa and its increasingly pivotal role in global trade have placed African ports at the forefront of international commerce. With sustained growth rates and improvements in port infrastructure, the continent is well-positioned to become a strategic trade hub. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, significant challenges must be addressed, including the modernization of facilities, reducing logistical bottlenecks, and adapting to international demands.

11 Nov, 2024
Drones in B2C logistics

Drone swarms in B2C logistics: a promising future with challenges to overcome

In a world where speed and efficiency are paramount, delivery drones are emerging as an innovative solution in B2C logistics, transforming the way deliveries are made. These devices are particularly effective in urban environments, where they can cover significantly greater distances than ground vehicles, and in rural areas, where they connect isolated communities with essential services. Despite challenges related to regulation and infrastructure, drones offer a unique opportunity to enhance delivery efficiency and speed, as well as to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

22 Oct, 2024
Cold Chain in Africa

Exploring the potential and overcoming the challenges of cold chain in Africa

Cold chain logistics in Africa has lagged due to infrastructure deficits and high costs. Recent efforts aim to improve cold storage to reduce post-harvest losses, ensure food security, and support the pharmaceutical industry. However, cold chain infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with countries like South Africa having more advanced systems, while many in Sub-Saharan Africa face significant inefficiencies due to basic infrastructure challenges.

10 Sep, 2024
African Regional Economic Communities (RECs)

African Regional Economic Communities: what they are and why they matter

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are associations of African States designed to facilitate regional economic integration among member countries and within the broader African Economic Community. These organizations play a crucial role in promoting cooperation and development across the continent.

10 Jul, 2024
Problems of transportation at Amazonia

The transportation and logistics challenges in Northern Brazil

Brazil's development has primarily unfolded along its extensive coastline, where the majority of the population, infrastructure, and overall advancements are concentrated. Due to this process and to the presence of Amazonian rainforest, the North region has suffered from late development, with a lack of necessary investments in infrastructure, especially those related to transportation.

30 Jan, 2024
Railway sector in the African continent

Railway development in Africa: a positive impact on emission reduction

In the early 20th century, African railways initially arose to facilitate military and commercial operations within the mining and agriculture sectors. Unfortunately, over the ensuing decades, most African railways experienced a substantial decline attributed to inadequate infrastructure and rolling stock maintenance.

20 Nov, 2023
Analysis of the food trading industry in the ports of Europe

Analysis of the food trading industry in the ports of Europe

The European port landscape is a mature ecosystem, connected to hinterlands that are not expected to experience drastic changes in its connectivity infrastructure as well as the size of its population. As such, understanding the challenges of the system and its supply chains is critical to succeed in this market.

29 Jun, 2022
New Customer Experience model - Impact of new consumer habits in traditional FMCG industry approach in Brazil

New Customer Experience model - Impact of new consumer habits in traditional FMCG industry approach in Brazil

The online shopping of first necessity goods of medicines, processed food, fresh foods, beverage, and even fashion goods as clothes and shoes, are in considerable rise, and the retail industry is leading the changes in the customer needs fulfilment.

28 Apr, 2021
Impact of Coronavirus on the Middle East mega projects and post Covid-19 challenges

Impact of Coronavirus on the Middle East mega projects and post Covid-19 challenges

Ten months after its emergence, COVID-19 is still having a profound impact on the global economy. Governments around the world have opted for several policies to contain the transmission of the virus, leading to a drop in demand for products and services, halt in production, and inevitably a sharp decline in public and private expenditures. 

19 Nov, 2020
Trends and technology to ensure seamless and secure bonded transportation

Trends and technology to ensure seamless and secure bonded transportation

Bonded corridors are logistics solutions developed to connect physically-distant areas which enjoy a differentiated customs regime from the rest of the country (eg. Bonded areas), while avoiding to go through a customs clearance process. 

19 Nov, 2020
Integrated Business Planning (IBP) – A key to future competition in businesses that are heavily dependent on supply chains

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) – A key to future competition in businesses that are heavily dependent on supply chains

Integrated Business Planning (IBP) is the business planning process that unfolds the principles of S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) throughout the extended Supply Chain, Product Portfolio, Customer Demand and Strategic Planning.

02 Jul, 2020
Impact of coronavirus on the global supply chains

Impact of coronavirus on the global supply chains

It has been a short period of time since the COVID-19 entered our lives, but the virus has completely modified our routines. Nothing is as it used to be also in the supply chains and the future to come is uncertain. 

23 Apr, 2020
Free Zones and Special Economic Zones. Understanding the business model and the main impacts

Free Zones and Special Economic Zones. Understanding the business model and the main impacts

Free Zones (FZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are two kinds of ILPs: "geographically demarcated areas, developed and subdivided into plots according to a comprehensive plan with provision for roads, transport and public utilities, with or without built-up (advance) factories”.

09 Apr, 2020
ROI on footprint and warehouse design for inventory optimization along the Supply Chain

ROI on footprint and warehouse design for inventory optimization along the Supply Chain

Inventory management is the system of keeping tabs on the goods available and sold, so that one is never out of materials required. Inventory management is a complex and time consuming process and the attention paid to it varies among industries, it is usually the top priority for retail decision makers, and it translates into the service commitment of any company. 

02 Jul, 2018
Replenishment policies and data analytics as a source of competitive edge in inventory management

Replenishment policies and data analytics as a source of competitive edge in inventory management

As it was shown in a previous release, inventory management has become a complex and time consuming process. Hence, the attention paid to it varies among industries, but the ones who decide to take a closer look had been able to transform it in a source of competitive edge for their companies.

02 Jul, 2018
Middle East logistics overview Challenges vs. Opportunities

Middle East logistics overview Challenges vs. Opportunities

ALG has been very active in the Middle East and its commitment in the region led it to establish its own office in Dubai which is now on its 9th year. This presence has strengthened its ties with major clients in the region and has also allowed it to develop its capabilities with a deep understanding of local needs.

27 Nov, 2017
Designing Efficiency for Warehouses: Key Considerations, Challenges, and Methodology

Designing Efficiency for Warehouses: Key Considerations, Challenges, and Methodology

Up until 90’s, warehouses had served as a mean of storage to protect products and stock goods for future use. However, the recent globalisation and internet evolution era has been pressuring companies to further evolve their customer response times while improving on their cost-to-serve in order to stay competitive.

18 Jul, 2017
Improving logistics performance through collaborative web platforms

Improving logistics performance through collaborative web platforms

In such markets, value creation through transport and logistics is undermined by a variety of deep-rooted obstacles, where some of the most common barriers (in African and some Latin American countries, for example) are steep trade imbalances, an abundance of very small transport companies, a lack of solid outsourcing culture and poor offering of value-added logistics services.

27 Apr, 2017
Effective B2B approach to infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs)

Effective B2B approach to infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs)

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are a form of collaboration between public and private entities where the private party takes over the provision of services or development of projects. PPPs can create value for all parties involved providing a fair compensation of each party based on the effort, responsibility and risk undertaken.

27 Apr, 2017
Shaping the development of an Industrial and Logistics Park

Shaping the development of an Industrial and Logistics Park

Industrial Parks are considered by governments as one of the most effective instruments to achieve higher standards of industrialization and economic development. Sometimes these areas operate under different administrative, regulatory and fiscal regimes than the rest of the country.

27 Apr, 2017
Making development corridors work in West Africa: the Abidjan-Lagos corridor trade challenge

Making development corridors work in West Africa: the Abidjan-Lagos corridor trade challenge

West Africa and the Abidjan-Lagos corridor – between Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria, passing through Ghana, Benin and Togo – have been growing steadily for the past decades. The region has abundant and diverse resources including both agricultural and mineral resources that represent great opportunities for trade.

23 Jan, 2017
Designing new generation Vehicle Distribution Centres

Designing new generation Vehicle Distribution Centres

Growing motorisation rates worldwide are challenging traditional vehicles supply chains. Although larger logistic capacity is required, operational efficiency and cost optimization are a must to survive in this highly competitive environment.

04 Oct, 2016

You have successfully subscribed to ALG news! We will share with you the new publications that we hope will be of your interest.