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Issue 6 2019 - Freight Business Journal


///IT


“The solution can be used


Air India is to use an upgraded Digistics integrated logistics software suite to improve its cargo management capability. Technology supplier Unisys says it will enable the carrier to use “consistent and accurate data” right across the company – from booking to accounting – to help improve cash flow while creating greater transparency on shipment status for its cargo customers. Air India’s cargo operations


encompass a network of 82 domestic and 41 international destinations. As well as being the national flag-carrier, it also provides ground handling services for many foreign airlines at Indian airports through a subsidiary. “Air India’s cargo business is


growing fast, so we needed an integrated solution with the speed and flexibility to grow with our business and provide our customers with faster deliveries and greater visibility into their shipments,” informs Nirbhik Narang, executive director – cargo at Air India. “Unisys is helping us implement a next-generation


cargo platform that uses


automated real-time data collection and processing to streamline processes. As it is integrated with our accounting system, it will enable prompt and accurate invoicing for carriage of cargo for better credit control, fewer bad debts and ultimately more cash flow.” The carrier has been


employing Unisys technology for about 30 years, including the Digistics suite. Under the new contract agreed with Unisys, the Digistics cargo platform will feature three additional Digistics modules on a software-as- a-service (SaaS) basis: Digi- Accounting: an integrated cargo real-time revenue accounting and reconciliation solution designed specifically for air


handling operations that uses centralised data sets for both operations and financial systems; Digi-Mobile: staff can use


mobile devices to process shipments on the move at any location, including on an airport ramp. Using digital


Putting the accent on air cargo collaboration


Franco-Dutch freight carrier Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP Cargo) has become the launch airline customer for AFLS Exchange, a Cloud- based platform from Accenture that enables air cargo carriers to integrate their partner networks. Developed by Accenture’s


Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS) business group, AFLS Exchange provides air freight carriers with real-time visibility into their partner and joint venture networks. It enables efficient and secure transactions for business functions including route enquiry, capacity availability


automatically capturing and using a single data set throughout the process from booking to accounting, based on the trusted air waybill, Air India will be at the forefront of the cargo industry’s modernisation and transformation to a connected cargo supply that will not only improve transparency for the airline’s customers, it will streamline processes and improve credit control and cash flow for the airline.”


cargo and ground


signatures and barcode scanning via a smart phone, it allows for freight to be processed more quickly and securely. It also updates data in real time; and Digi-Analytics, an online, managed service that provides interactive data; visualisations that highlight cargo patterns such as tendered cargo compared to bookings, as well as anomalies. Under the new deal, Unisys


will also provide a postal mail and parcel shipment scanning and tracking solution. Rick Mayhew, vice president


and general manager at Unisys Asia Pacific, comments: “By


checks and bookings. As a result, says Accenture, AFLS Exchange provides customers with more product and


route options


Integrated cargo management


Niranjan Navaratnarajah, cargo industry director for Unisys Asia Pacific (pictured), offers more detail on Digistics and what


it will offer Air India’s


cargo operations. “Digistics is an integrated


cargo management solution that offers an airline the ability to position its capacity inventory in a global portal, provide the capability to book manage its inventory, operate and account for the shipments transported.


latest international security standards. “We are committed to


and


allows for significantly faster response times by replacing cumbersome, largely manual processes. It


integrates easily and


quickly with a carrier’s existing booking system and incorporates cloud security measures. AFLS Exchange is also said to comply with the


leveraging innovative technology to transform our business, and AFLS Exchange will make integrating with our partner network simple and quick,” says Marcel de Nooijer, executive vice president at AFKLMP Cargo. “We’re confident that AFLS Exchange will help us expand our network footprint and enable us to generate


across any inventory. It also provides advanced analytical visualisation for deep insights into customers’ behaviour, operational performance or how omnichannels contribute to airlines’ sales enablement. “Mobility enables workers to


handle freight more efficiently in the warehouse using barcode scanning, photographs and digital signatures. In summary, it provides a holistic framework to position inventory across channels, perform sales and marketing, operations, accounting and retrieve rich insights about the business,” Navaratnarajah says. He continues: “Digistics


offers an integrated view of the entire business. This provides a single source of the truth, with a clear view of the net. Importantly, it uses automated real-time data collection and processing to streamline processes and improve data accuracy and currency.” Plus: “We offer new


enhancements every month and they are loaded with no system downtime. Our system availability and response times are industry-best.” For Air India specifically,


the carrier will move from operating and managing disparate systems and creating and managing data in multiple systems to being able


even greater value from


our partnerships with other carriers.” Ganesh Vaideeswaran,


managing director of AFLS (pictured next page), tells FBJ more about the nature and benefits of AFLS Exchange. “AFLS Exchange is a digital platform


that helps air


cargo carriers connect and collaborate with their partners seamlessly to increase revenue growth, while also reducing operating costs.


to manage and work with a single data set, Navaratnarajah considers. But Air India is by no means


Digistics’ only customer, and Unisys has a long history and association


with the cargo


industry. Unisys was one of the first businesses to develop a cargo management system nearly three decades ago as a licensed model, and it then moved to the offering


the


capability to airlines as a SaaS model nearly two decades ago. The suite of modular cargo


offerings was rebranded as Digistics (digital + logistics) in 2017, and today offers what Navaratnarajah describes as “a holistic and integrated framework across the entire cargo business”. All the logistics products offered by Unisys come under the Digistics umbrella. Unisys continues to upgrade Digistics, and the latest its


innovations is Digi-Pet,


which provides a specialised solution for booking, tracking and transporting pets and live animals. Other current Digistics


clients include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines,


Aloha Air Cargo,


Northern Air Cargo, Air Canada, Air China, Air France KLM, Air India, Air New Zealand, SAS Cargo, Virgin Atlantic and MASkargo (Malaysian Airlines).


“The platform responds to


two trends. First, air freight carriers are increasingly looking to realise the full potential of their partnerships by tapping into the value of larger networks and a stronger position on key lanes; and, second, IT systems in cargo are constrained in not enabling those partnerships to easily materialise. “AFLS Exchange is a Cloud-


based platform that connects


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