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Dubai cargo business continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, putting
pressure on local stakeholders to do things smarter.
Notwithstanding current capacity constraints, Patrick Murray, head of
fast-rising IT company Calogi, said his company is facing down the challenge
despite a surge in terminal dock bookings.
“Our ‘Calogi Dock Booking’
feature is rising in popularity as it is well equipped to support the
cargo terminals’ ability to streamline their acceptance and delivery
process and allows an agent to pre-book an import or export dock and
receive priority service,” Patrick said.
“Additionally the cargo terminal
has identified off-peak, normal, or peak rates for each acceptance and
delivery dock to allow them to spread the workload.
“All Dubai freight forwarders currently
subscribing to Calogi have automatically been given the opportunity
to book docks at the dnata Freight Gate facilities.
“Based on historical data and the
type of dock, Calogi is able to calculate the loading and unloading
time required for one or more shipments and automatically allocates
the time required to complete the acceptance or delivery process.
“The Calogi dock booking feature
is one of our many responses to the growth challenge.”
“In the last month Calogi has processed
over 3,500 export dock bookings for over 6,000 tons of cargo, an incredible
feat.”
“While on the same subject
of terminal dock booking, dnata are now implementing a traffic management
system, which will allow forwarders who have made a dock booking to
enter the facility through an automated gate.
“The gate will be activated via
a 2D bar code generated from Calogi to their smart phone.
“The bar code contains air waybill
details and commensurate dock bookings.
"For users who do not possess a
smart phone, a paper version can also be printed and scanned to gain
access.
“At Air Cargo Europe last year,
we committed that we would identify innovative ways to use smart phone
technology to do business and this is our first development in this
area.”
“Calogi had yet another
good year in 2013 with subscribers and transaction increasing by 20
percent.
“Not bad considering the issues
facing the industry.
“This is testament to my belief
that smart business people will continue to invest in cost-effective
solutions during times of hardship to give themselves the edge during
and after a downturn.
“We are working very hard in many
international communities to expand our presence and we are experiencing
excellent results.
“Calogi continue to meet with industry
leaders to gain their insights into how we can successfully implement
our offering in their respective communities and have addressed their
feedback.
“We have also continued to develop
and offer low cost, functionally rich solutions and we still maintain
the decision to price our solution so that it is well within the reach
of the smallest stakeholder.
“I still believe we have an excellent
and unique product that simplifies the air cargo supply chain, increases
efficiency, and can both generate income and reduce costs.
“We have a model here in Dubai that
stands testament to that claim and I still invite industry leaders,
who are serious about reducing their costs or growing their business
to visit us and speak to some of our customers.”
“Last year we spent
a lot of time developing and perfecting our Road Feeder Service (RFS)
Product.
“My view is that a truck is an aircraft
with wheels, so the tricky part had been to make this solution and meet
the needs of both the trucking companies and the airline, and I’m
glad to say we succeeded. An RFS operator is now able to see what exactly
is lying in the terminal warehouse for him to pick up. From this inventory,
he can produce a load plan, a manifest, and can send electronic manifest
and status updates to the airlines served.
“On the subject of trucking and
innovation it should come as no surprise to the airports in the Middle
East when they see a Pan Airport Logistics truck branded in the Calogi
colors delivering and collecting air freight.
“Emblazoned with the familiar Calogi
logo and a number of jet aircraft that symbolize the paperless portal;
the truck, heralding the brand line, ‘Seamlessly linking the air
cargo supply chain,’ forms part of a campaign showcasing the Calogi
portal.”
“We also developed
the electronic consignment security declaration and we are currently
piloting this. We have a solution for both large and small companies.
“The key to this development is
to remove the need to re-enter data and offer a seamless solution that
allows large and small forwarders to participate in the IATA ‘secure
freight’ program.”
Geoffrey
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