IT\\\ The very model of a modern cargo cooperation


In November, air cargo IT system provider iTran Systems and China-based global supply chain specialist HNA Modern Logistics Group (HNA MLG) signed a long- term partnership agreement. The two allies expect to jointly


develop intelligent cargo and logistic soſtware solutions. They said: “The partnership goes beyond a pure supplier and customer relationship but shall in the future be a co-operation that also acts collectively on the cargo and logistics soſtware market.” In the first phase of the


collaboration, iTran and HNA MLG are to develop an integrated sales and booking system. This platform will integrate HNA processes from incoming sales and booking information with those of the airlines linked to it (HNA MLG is the logistics holding group of HNA and focuses on air freight, airport management, warehousing and smart logistics; it owns airlines including Hainan Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Grand China Air, as well as handling giant Swissport). Later aspects of the


collaboration are expected to include an app-based ‘Global Station


Management System’


as well as new warehouse management soſtware. Then, in 2018, the partners are scheduled to release to the market a new cargo revenue accounting solution that will include additional features such as finance. The pair are also committed to co-operating on air cargo-related overseas business research, consulting and implementation services. IT manager at HNA MLG, Kenn


Tang, explains that his group had been “looking for a partner who will help the group keep the strongest competitiveness in the future”. He adds that iTran Systems had, as a partner, already shown that it is a leader in providing “updated technology and soſtware in the air cargo and logistics industry.” Meanwhile: “HNA Modern


Logistics Group will on the other hand bring in the expertise of different industries and markets,” he states. “For both partners this will be a win-win situation.” Li Jin, chief executive of iTran


Systems, observes: “We are sure that with this co-operation we can worldwide serve the upcoming changes in the cargo and logistic supply chain


with our high- quality products and services. “Our target is clearly to become


the leading system provider in the cargo and logistic sector. With HNA Modern Logistic Group we together will be a successful player in that market and we will lead the change in the cargo industry.”


Rapid pace of change Li Jin offers his thoughts on the fast-changing role of IT in logistics: “Substantial changes are happening in literally every corner of the world. With 14 years expertise in working for air cargo, our team now has the ability to lead new technology to this outdated industry.” Li Jin spoke to FBJ about this


in more depth, first outlining the long-term thinking behind the deal with HNA MLG: “For HNA MLG, including [its] cargo carriers, ground handling agents and warehouses, we with our solutions such as sales


management, ground


handling, Big Data and automated technology get the opportunity to help the HNA Group to upgrade their technology. “Having over ten years’ and having successful


experience done several


Warm welcome in Miami for Cargo Flight Tracker


On 2 November, Miami International Airport (MIA) officially unveiled its new Cargo Flight Tracker. At the MIA-hosted Air Cargo Americas & SeaCargo Americas 2017 conference and exhibition,


it publicly unveiled


what it says is the first Web-based cargo flight information display system in the US to allow various links in the air cargo supply chain to view real-time cargo flight information on their mobile devices. Elsewhere in the US,


it notes,


cargo flight data is only available by sourcing the information from the specific airlines operating those flights. Now, it says, “cargo handlers have MIA’s minute-by-minute schedule of daily cargo flights in the palm of their hands – saving valuable time and fuel costs when planning


freight deliveries.” pickups and Miami-Dade Aviation


Department (MDAD) – the operator of MIA – demonstrated the MIA Cargo Flight Tracker at the show, with MDAD aviation director Emilio González enthusing: “The MIA Cargo Flight Tracker


is the latest example of how we are leveraging technology to streamline and optimise our cargo operations. Thanks to this new tool, our local cargo industry can spend less time and money waiting in traffic for cargo shipments, because


Issue 1 2018 - Freight Business Journal


implementations in the market already, we got the big opportunity to place them in the HNA Group.” The co-operation will, however, also have a positive outcome for the overall cargo industry, Li Jin predicted. Past co-operation helped the


pair to seal a more formalised deal, he recalls: “We had worked together with HNA Group for several years


[previously] and


we signed back in 2011 the first contract for Yangtze River Airlines. [Subsequently] we had signed several contracts for airports such as Meilan Airport – to only name one.


“We had several talks with them


on how to change their rather traditional cargo business and also about new technologies in the cargo market. The co-operation agreement was arranged within a timeline of about five months.” HNA MLG is not iTran’s only


partner. It also has partnerships with SF Express and China Post – the two biggest express carriers in the Chinese market. It introduced a new Big Data solution for SF and, based on this, Li Jin confirms that iTran is planning to further expand into the express and logistic market. So, are we likely to see more


tie-ups between IT specialists and supply chain operators? “We believe that the traditional cargo carrier will still also be in the market in the future,” he opines.


now they have real-time flight information at their fingertips.” MIIA marketing division chief


Ernesto Rodriguez of MDAD tells FBJ that the Cargo Flight Tracker has received some “very positive feedback”. He said that while MDAD doesn’t yet have data on how many people are using the tool, users have included government agencies, cargo handlers on- airport, freight forwarders, Customs brokers, perishables importers, airlines, ground transportation


iTrans’s Li Jin, right, and Oliver Neerfeld, leſt


“However, we can see that many logistic providers already tie up their logistics service because of a change in the business model driven by new requirements coming from e-commerce and express services. This will be the future, even though the cargo carriers still have to solve some of their business gaps, technology should be the bridge to solve those gaps.”


companies, flight dispatchers, ground dispatcher companies and shippers from the points of origin. He notes that the Cargo Flight


Tracker is also benefiting shippers and consignees who are part of MIA’s Ocean-to-Air Perishables Trans-shipment


programme,


which began earlier this year. This trans-shipment project allows MIA to receive perishable freight by sea as well as by air – a first for any Florida airport. In 2016, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)


Collaborations will definitely


become a common feature of the air cargo and wider logistics industry, he says: “First, it is important that cargo carriers are willing to change their business model. Second, is the technology. HNA MLG with their financial service and e-commerce service will integrate our tool with their air cargo service to offer a new business approach to the market.”


had approved the programme’s permit, and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agreed to expedite processing of the ocean shipments before their departure by air. MDAD has invested in other


logistics-enabling IT improvements at MIA in recent times, including its e-AWB 360 campaign – a global effort launched in 2016 to eliminate printing costs and replace manual data entry with a more efficient and reliable digital system.


Forward thinking, Forward moving


I am often asked about the important decisions made by our organization. Without hesitation, choosing


Forward Computers as our software provider is proving to be a pivotal one to the on-going success and the progression of Graylaw’s future.


Nick Green, General Manager, Graylaw Freight Group


15


forwardcomputers.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20