BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 5. Digitalization affects first of all tariffs, as the main goal is to achieve the final total cost of transportation along the transport corridor to make it competitive, PwC Azerbaijan Technology Consulting Director Farid Gattal told Trend.
"Transportation corridors are mainly formed on the basis of infrastructural opportunities and proposals. In Azerbaijan, a huge amount of work is being done in this direction. Transportation is a priority area of development in general, with good potential to increase export opportunities and first of all exports of services. Digitalization affects tariffs firstly, as the main objective is to achieve the final total cost of transportation along the corridor to make it competitive. It is clear that when talking about the East-West route, we are mainly talking about the transportation of products from China to Europe, and here it is crucial to have competitive prices. Digital technologies help optimize resources to achieve this," he said.
Gattal emphasized that it is also important that the digital ERP system, i.e. the business management system, is open to interact with other ecosystem members (the current trend is API).
"You can then take orders and transmit quotations electronically or, for example, integrate the seaport and railroads so that a system is formed where a certain package of services can be formed. There is a great potential here, and the more effectively digital technologies are implemented directly in large transportation companies, infrastructure operators, the stronger, in my opinion, the greater the competitive advantage and the opportunity to develop new potential routes," he added.
PwC is an international network of companies offering consulting and audit services. PricewaterhouseCoopers refers to the companies that are part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited network, each of which is an independent legal entity. The brand has existed for more than 160 years and is one of the so-called "Big Four" audit companies.
PwC's strategy in Azerbaijan is primarily aimed at helping local businesses (both private and state-owned) to successfully transform themselves. This is now one of the main focus areas of PwC's global network.
PwC aims to assist Azerbaijan in developing enterprises and businesses, strengthening their competitiveness, changing their structure, and improving the way they do business in line with current challenges.
