Digital Pulse: Cargo industry looks to e-booking solutions

Digitalization is helping airlines and other cargo professionals reach more customers and streamline the booking process. Partnerships announced in March include Air Europa Cargo with CargoAi to launch CargoGate for its e-booking platform, ground handlers Menzies Aviation with Wipro Limited for its cloud-native technologies and Air New Zealand Cargo with CargoAi for inclusion into CargoMart. Air Europa Cargo partners with CargoAi Later this year, Air Europa Cargo will launch CargoGate — which allows freight forwarders to search, book, track and pay for shipments quickly in one interface — to work in conjunction with its current e-booking platform, Cargospot . CargoGate is offered by airfreight digitalization company CargoAi . Payment and CO2 tracking and reduction functions will be powered respectively by CargoWallet and CargoAi’s Cargo2Zero. “We chose to partner with CargoAi to accelerate our digital adoption as we were looking for a solution and partner that presented minimal IT investment, accelerated deployment and low long-term maintenance requirements from our side,” said Jordi Pique , general manager of Air Europa Cargo, in a release. The e-booking platform covers all products except valuables, for which customers must contact Air Europa Cargo directly for booking. Air Europa does not generally transport valuable cargo, according to Pique. “Air Europa Cargo transported 56,600,000 kilos last year, in fact surpassing the sales in kilos that we registered before the pandemic,” Pique told Air Cargo Next . “These figures are evidence of the good results obtained, even more so considering that last year we did not have the entire network in operation.” CargoGate is “plug and play,” meaning airlines can rapidly configure the system to work with their current digital booking portals. “We help small to medium airlines jump the digital curve and become more competitive than most of the big airlines, who had to invest years and millions to make” their own digital booking platforms, Matthieu Petot , chief executive of CargoAi, told Air Cargo Next . CargoGate has about five users, though more will be added soon, Petot said. “This partnership also allows the simultaneous benefit to have Air Europa Cargo schedules and capacity available on our digital marketplace application, CargoMart, allowing Air Europa Cargo to be booked by the 8,000-plus forwarders that we currently have on our digital marketplace,” Petot said in a release. Menzies selects Wipro Menzies Aviation announced plans to implement technology services and consulting company Wipro’s cargo handling product that uses cloud-native technologies to improve business efficiencies, enhance employee experience and customer service through increased automation, and provide business insights. Cloud-native technology is built and run to take advantage of the distributed computing offered by the cloud delivery model. “The new solution provides a radically improved user interface that simplifies the processes across the entire cargo handling realm,” Venkatesh Sanjeeva , global head of airline solutions at Wipro, told Air Cargo Next . The technology provides: A dashboard across all business areas with alerts to monitor key performance indicators; Improved compliance with IATA and regulatory requirements; A reduction in manual paper-based processes; A fully integrated message switch; and Standardization of processes across the network. “Wipro’s cargo solution is currently implemented for Qatar Airways , one of the largest cargo carriers in the world, and LATAM Airways , Latin America’s largest cargo carrier,” Sanjeeva said. “The solution for Menzies has been reengineered from the ground up to deliver superior functional capabilities and robust, comprehensive, mobile device-based handling as well.” Menzies initially will roll out the solution for shipments originating in Bucharest in Romania; Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland in New Zealand; and Macao in China by the end of the year, with plans to fully implement it across Menzies’ global network by the end of 2024. “This agreement will enable end-to-end digitalization of our operations, process standardization, consistent customer service and enhanced employee experience, which is hugely important in attracting a new generation of cargo professionals,” said Robert Fordree , executive vice president of cargo at Menzies Aviation, in a release. “Our teams will be able to utilize an operating system that is more aligned to the look and feel of everyday apps, and our customers will benefit from increased transparency of cargo status, use of automation to speed up processes and improved safety and security procedures.” Air New Zealand Cargo chooses CargoMart CargoAi has onboarded Air New Zealand Cargo to its digital marketplace, CargoMart, meaning freight forwarders can book general and express cargo on all the airline’s routes with access to real-time schedules, bulk quoting, e-booking, track and trace, and Cargo2Zero sustainability features. Following the pilot launch, Air New Zealand Cargo will expand its offering worldwide, giving full visibility and booking to more than 9,000 freight forwarders in 105 countries “We are proud to be the marketplace of choice that Air NZ has chosen to commence its digital offering with,” Petot said in a release. “With our shared vision in transforming the air cargo landscape, we are looking forward to bringing the best digital booking experience that CargoMart offers to our joint customers.” CargoMart calculates the CO2 emissions of each shipment and provides customers with revenue intelligence tools, including 3D viewing of the shipment, data and analytics. “While we enjoy a strong presence from the ports where we operate direct flights, the sheer size of the USA and Canada market dictates we embrace platforms that expand our commercial reach,” said Brooke Roberts, sales manager for North America for Air New Zealand Cargo, in a release.

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