IT\\\ Jettainer creates digital doppelgängers


Luſthansa Cargo‘s Jettainer ULD supply and fleet management arm says it is in the process of creating a ‘digital twin’ for each and every one of its 100,000 unit load devices (ULDs). Each digital twin is said to be a virtual representation of the physical container, offering all the data and history of that ULD in one easily accessible place. The information stored includes details such as the unique identifier of the container, its exact type and specifications, its manufacturer, and dates of manufacturing and purchasing, as well as the entire history of that ULD.


Jettainer already has an AI-


based decision support system for ULD management and it “sees great potential in creating and applying predictive models for example for ULD fleet renewal and overall purchasing decisions”. Head of operational excellence


supply chain Gert Pfeifer remarks: “Digitisation and the use of data has always been an integral part of Jettainer.” But, he adds that the more data that is available, the more pain points arise, such as quality assurance, or data overload. “With our set-up of digital twins


we can automate workflows and support our teams around the


continues. When new ULDs are added to the fleet, a digital twin is born as soon as the order is placed. Over the course of its future deployment and any repairs, a complete picture of its lifecycle is then created. Moreover, in the future, completely new data sets could also be added. For example, information on the specific content of baggage or cargo carried by individual ULDs. Jettainer started the Digital Twin


Project in 2020, although it had always collected and stored data on the ULDs in its fleet. Therefore, it already had a “data warehouse” on which to base the project. “We considered digital twins to be the next logical step in our digitisation process, transforming data into real information and valuable insights to further optimise processes and decisions,” says Pfeifer. While the digital twin does


Jettainer says it facilitates


automated decision-making and greater optimisation of value. All operational and maintenance and repair events are recorded, alongside the specifics of any repairs and real-time information on condition, status and location. The data is sourced from


Jettainer’s tracking system, Jettainer’s asset database and its repair flow management records. According to Jettainer, while


today the main benefits of these digital twins lie in more efficient use of the ULD over its lifetime, further application of artificial intelligence (AI) will “lay the foundation for even more accurate and detailed forecasting”.


world to make better decisions – faster.”


Ongoing process


Pfeifer tells FBJ that the vast majority of its fleet of 100,000 ULDs already have a digital twin and only about 5% still require a physical inspection to avoid missing or inconsistent data in the system. “We are now in the phase of


ensuring data quality,” he informs. “If we find a gap, we will close it to fully assign to each ULD all relevant data. We expect to successively create digital twins for almost all ULDs in our fleet.” The whole process is one of “continuous development”, Pfeifer


not involve a scan of the physical ULD, adding photographs of the physical unit has proven to be useful, he says. Such images are particularly helpful, for example, in the maintenance process. Today, Jettainer works with more than 20 repair service providers around the world and photos are a useful to diagnose any damage and the general condition of a ULD. Jettainer’s customers have


access to the data through various processes based on their contract with Jettainer and the specific services they sign up to receive. For example, ULD management customers typically use JettWare to access dangerous goods (DG) data. For mobile access, Jettainer developed the JettApp. This can include tracking and tracing as well as maintenance or order management.


Bremen-headquartered Röhlig Logistics has teamed up with German digitsation specialist q.beyond (formerly known as QSC) to help drive its global digitisation strategy. That strategy encompasses


various initiatives such as digital


pricing and quoting,


track and trace and making expanded use of the Cloud. It also takes in the company’s wider cyber and data strategies. The partnership with q.beyond is


expected to expand


capabilities across these areas. Conrad Franchi, Röhlig’s


chief digital officer, observes: “We have found an ideal partner


to accompany the


implementation of our digital strategy in order to fully automate our processes on the one hand, and to create digital solutions for our customers on the other.” Philip Herwig, a managing


partner at Röhlig, adds: “We already have a powerful IT organisation with more than 100 employees, which we are strengthening to accelerate our digital initiatives. In doing so, we think creatively and are open to long-term co- operations in order to secure the best talent. “We see the digitalisation


of logistics as an opportunity for our business model. We complement our transport solutions for airfreight, sea freight and contract logistics


with digital products and services to create digital added value for our customers.” Thanks to the partnership,


Röhlig hopes to expand its central transport management and finance systems, significantly modernise its system platform for contract logistics and break new ground in data analytics. In addition, q.beyond and its


subsidiary


Incloud, a software engineering specialist,


will support the


further development of Röhlig Real Time and My Röhlig as the company’s platform-based cloud applications. Röhlig was able to register


30% more users on its Real Time product last year, while also winning new customers via My Röhlig. Given this success, Röhlig


is planning


set up its own subsidiary as a digital lab before the end of June 2021, which will handle digital product development. The company is already in the start-up phase of this project, it confirms.


Blue Star


Röhlig’s digitisation strategy forms one part of wider corporate strategy, Blue Star. The three-year Blue Star programme was launched in 2019 and takes in five key strategies: customer service and product excellence; talent, people and organisational


Forward Computers makes biggest-ever investment


Freight IT specialist Forward Computers – now renamed Forward Solutions - has made its largest ever single investment on a new software release. The company is redeveloping


www.forwardsolutions.co.uk


and reengineering its product portfolio by investing in the latest technology with a focus on enhancing user experience and is developing an additional user interface to be rolled out in early 2022. Customers will be able to choose it for all or


part of their user base. Managing director Richard Litchfield, who


joined our the


team in January, comments: “We have invested time listening to


customers,


which is shaping this new front-end evolution. This is the first of many developments we’re making to ensure our customers have best-in- class technology, to help them improve efficiencies and deliver the best solutions to meet their needs.”


excellence; digital, data and technology excellence; growth, sales and marketing excellence; and profitability and financial excellence. And, within Blue Star,


Röhlig is hoping to achieve improvement in the overall profitability of its core business. Its financial results in 2020 demonstrated the effectiveness of the measures taken so far, he says. The relaunch of the My


Röhlig customer portal, as well as the growth in use of Röhlig’s Real Time track and trace platform and the company’s supply chain visibility product, Gravity, demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing value for its customers,” he asserts. Growth of the company is


another aim. Currently, Röhlig is assessing various options in its plan to enter new markets, while recent branch openings in India reflect the general strategy, Franchi says. There will be “more to come” in the coming months and years, he suggests. Röhlig has for some time been looking for potential partnerships, especially for supporting its IT and digital initiatives, Franchi says. The q.beyond partnership adds significant value and resources to Röhlig, he declares, adding: “We want to work with the best global talent.”


Issue 5 2021 - Freight Business Journal


27


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