Pandemic supply chain served by new tech strategies

[caption id="attachment_83744" align="alignright" width="400"] A Southwest employee scans cargo at Nashville. Photo courtesy of Southwest Airlines.[/caption] Airlines and forwarders have continued to invest in their innovation strategies despite the widespread disruption and financial impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, indicating a shift in the industry’s approach to adopting technology for better service. Several companies in the space have launched new offerings or rolled out improvements to existing tech to accommodate heightened demand for transparency and support from shippers adjusting to the new business environment. Among the major forwarders and airlines Air Cargo World spoke to, adoption of networkwide transport management systems (TMS) and track-and-trace technology improvements were noted as the most crucial investments for improving service for shipper customers. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics announced plans in May to adopt the CargoWise TMS, allowing the forwarder — ranked No. 9 in this year’s Power 25 ranking of the world’s top airfreight forwarders — to manage complex processes around customs clearance, shipping, warehousing and e-commerce, among other tasks. American Airlines Cargo, which launched its own TMS in October 2019, recently added new capabilities to the iCargo platform it uses, which was developed by IBS Software. The recently added capabilities support AA Cargo’s ExpediteTC pharmaceutical product and adoption of handheld devices for warehouse employees, reducing the use of paper check sheets in warehouses. According to Angela Hudson, head of transformation at AA Cargo, the major advantage of the TMS is the relative ease of further technology adoption, compared to tech adoption under legacy systems. The iCargo launch involved a major investment in time and labor at the company, and Hudson stressed the necessity of investing in the cargo side of the airline’s business in order to become a leader in air cargo. “American has a rich history of being a leader, but for the last 20 years because our IT landscape was so complex, we couldn’t act quickly,” Hudson said. “We see some disruptive folks coming into our space, pushing the boundaries of paperless and touchless, and really finding ways to meet customers where they need to be. It’s really important to have these efforts under your belt.” On the track-and-trace side, adoption of transport management systems can help facilitate better shipment visibility, particularly as the supply chain has been disrupted, with virtually all transportation modes affected by the pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions. Forwarder C.H. Robinson, which came in at No. 25 in this year’s Power 25 ranking of the world’s top airfreight forwarders, told Air Cargo World that its Navisphere product has been in widespread use by its customers as supply chains have shifted during the pandemic. The company has long billed Navisphere as a big-data product able to help businesses cope with supply chain disruptions from disasters. Matt Castle, C.H. Robinson’s vice president of global forwarding products and services, said the system has not only benefited the company’s shipper customers, but also C.H. employees shifting to a remote work environment. “For some, this involved rerouting shipments, searching for additional sourcing locations or adjusting their mode of transportation to deliver their freight more quickly, like personal protective equipment (PPE),” Castle said. “Since it was no longer business as usual, C.H. Robinson’s track and trace technology, built by and for supply chain experts, provided near real-time visibility for our customers and made it possible for our inland carriers to be updated on any changes or possible delays.” Airlines are also looking to offer increased visibility for freight moving across their networks. To that end, Southwest Cargo rolled out cargo scanning across its entire network earlier this month, after a short beta launch in May. As companies strive to maintain their edge in an increasingly competitive market, it’s likely more investments or even acquisitions to improve capabilities are ahead. In addition to its Navisphere products, C.H. Robinson’s Castle highlighted the Robinson Labs innovation incubator, which the company launched in January. “This work has continued over the last several months and many of the solutions that Robinson Labs logistics experts, innovation teams and data scientists develop in collaboration with customers, like enhancements to Navisphere Insight, have allowed our customers to continue to delivering without interruption and keep up with consumer demand throughout the pandemic,” Castle said.

Pandemic supply chain served by new tech strategies

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