THE Durban Fresh Produce Market has introduced an innovative and convenient self-service system which has made shopping a pleasant and efficient experience for buyers. Launched recently, the Buyer Information Terminal (BIT) is located in the market sales hall of the third largest produce market in South Africa.

This is the first market in Africa to have this facility. This technology system is a joint effort between the market’s Information Technology Department and Freshmark Systems, a company which provides a trading platform to the market. The system is linked to the market’s trading system and allows a buyer, who has to have a market buying card, to access real-time daily market statistics such as average prices, available stock, personal account balances and records of all transactions.

Marketing Manager at Durban’s Fresh Produce Market, Swazi Khumalo said when a buyer scans their card, the BIT shows the 20 most selling produce on the market floor. “You then select what you need and you check the availability of stock from the different agents.

The system also shows you quantities and prices. Bulk market buyers usually buy large quantities so they are able to negotiate their prices. The technology even allows the buyer to check money deposited into their account,” she explained. The technology also shows food grading and the sizes in kilograms. It also provides information on the number of days the produce has been in stock. It also shows the lowest, average and highest pricing of the produce.

The market provided training to ensure that buyers are able to use the BIT. The market also has plans in the pipeline to upload the information on the internet for buyers to access. silindile.maluleka@durban.gov.za