CHAMP’s Traxon Premium Tracking and Shipply.Truck solutions provide QR codes for collecting data – without the need for costly mobile applications
CHAMP Cargosystems has partnered with CargoSoft, the e-logistics solutions provider, and Central Global Cargo (CGC), a time-critical logistics company, to co-create a crucial first/last mile tracking to support forwarders better manage their operations. This will bring true full and real-time tracking of the supply chain from end-to-end.
The services work in tandem with Traxon Premium Tracking and Shipply.Truck to provide contactless QR codes to collect time, date, geolocation and images of an event – feeding back to the freight forwarder’s transport management system via an API.
The need for such a service arose from resource consuming data collection around first/last mile events. Only 45% of these events were recorded correctly, on time or at all. Many operators choose to create costly closed-system mobile applications in order to record these events. Many of these consume much data and energy from truckers’ mobile devices – even when not in use. Contrary to that closed-system approach, this new solution is simple, open, and flexible – requiring only a QR code that can be scanned with a mobile camera, which links to the relevant URL where new information can be updated automatically. Truckers are pleased with the results – one noting, “Thanks to the QR code, we can quickly transfer all pick-up and delivery data via mobile, and above all a digital copy of the proof of delivery. This saves us a lot of phone calls and emails.”
Traxon Premium Tracking service leverages existing information flows, provided by the world’s largest and growing air cargo community, Traxon cargoHUB. It provides shipment status updates and offers full end-to-end shipment visibility to customers and their shippers – in an efficient automated way.
“We are delighted to have partnered with CHAMP Cargosystems in such a project,” says Uwe Droste, MD Development and Operations at CargoSoft. “We have created an easy to integrate solution that requires no additional hardware or software. Most importantly, it is easily implemented on the ground – with clear gains to operational efficiencies.”
“This is a huge advancement for the world of freight forwarders and provides a vital service to our customers,” says Theo Buergel, CEO at Central Global Cargo. “With this automated technology, we have added visibility for our shipments and can minimize false data due to human error. We have calculated a time savings for operational staff averaging 5 minutes and 15 seconds per shipment! We are delighted with the results.”
“With this new technology, we set on a new path to real-time end-to-end supply chain visibility,” says Nicholas Xenocostas, Vice President Commercial and Customer Engagement at CHAMP Cargosystems. “This will bring benefits to every participant in the supply chain – most importantly the shipper. Bringing common-sense technologies into the freight forwarder space will add important data for our customers that can further push the boundaries of efficiency. We thank both our partners, CargoSoft and Central Global Cargo for this wonderful opportunity to co-create something special.”
dnata Singapore has announced the appointment of Musdalifa Abdullah as the company’s managing director for Singapore.
In his role, Musdalifa will oversee dnata’s ground handling, cargo and catering operations at Changi Airport in Singapore. He will manage a team of 1,800 employees, ensuring world-class services and safety for over 40 airline customers.
Stewart Angus, dnata’s divisional senior vice president for airport operations, said: “I’m pleased to announce that Musdalifa will lead our Singapore team. I’m confident that our partners and colleagues will all benefit from Musdalifa’s customer-oriented approach and extensive experience in the aviation industry. Our Singapore business will be in good hands.”
A Singapore national, Abdullah joined dnata in 2017. As chief financial officer for dnata’s Asia Pacific Region, he has played an important role in the transformation and innovative development of dnata Singapore in the last few years. Before joining dnata, Abdullah held several senior positions within the aviation industry in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Abdullah’s appointment is effective immediately.
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG) has appointed David Shepherd as managing director.
David Shepherd, who is joining from Aer Lingus, is well known in the industry having previously held a variety of leadership roles at IAG Cargo including the positions of commercial director and director of Digital Ventures.
Shepherd will report into David Podolsky, who will continue in his role as chief executive of the business, having served in the interim role since April 2021.
The bolstering of the IAG Cargo executive team, reflects the growing importance of cargo within the Group. In 2020 the business delivered exceptional results, amid a challenging economic and capacity environment, reporting commercial revenues of €1,306 million over the period from January 1 to December 31 2020, an increase of 18.5 per cent on 2019 at constant currency.
David Podolsky, chief executive at IAG Cargo said, “As we build on the success of 2020, we are excited to be welcoming David back who brings a wealth of experience. David will lead all aspects of our business in close collaboration with me, in this vital time in aviation. The past year has shown just how essential air cargo is for industries around the world and this appointment reflects the importance of cargo in the Group.”
Shepherd who will be re-joining IAG Cargo on 1 August 2021 said, “I am delighted to be returning to IAG Cargo working closely with David and the wider cargo team at this time of unprecedented change as we look to expand and further transform our cargo offering.”
The Gulf Air has appointed two Bahrainis in executive and management roles. Adnan Hashim as chief financial officer and Jamal AlKuwaiti as director human resources.
Gulf Air’s acting chief executive officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi said: “At Gulf Air, we are committed to hiring the best Bahraini talents with rich experience into the executive management team. The Kingdom of Bahrain is known for its highly educated and experienced pool of talents and Gulf Air will always prioritise Bahrainis for job opportunities whether in executive roles or at entry levels.”
He added: “I welcome Adnan and Jamal to the Gulf Air family, and I am sure they will be up for the challenge in working for a global and multinational airline with such legacy and heritage.”
Kuehne+Nagel has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Salmosped AS.
The Oslo-based company is a Norwegian perishables freight forwarder specializing in transportation of seafood products. It generated turnover of CHF 118 million (£93 million) in 2020 and handled approximately 63,000 tons of goods.
Today, Norway is one of the largest fishery and aquaculture producers in the world. Despite the pandemic, Norway’s fish exports remained strong, with attractive prospects for fisheries and marine aquaculture growth in light of its 21,000 km long coastline.
Dennis Verkooy, senior vice president global perishables & head of carrier management air logistics at Kuehne+Nagel Management AG, says, “Perishables logistics is a strong growth driver for Kuehne+Nagel. While we have been present in the seafood business in Norway for years, today’s acquisition strengthens our footprint in air freight exports from this important seafood producing country. We are looking forward to enlarging our Norwegian team with Salmosped’s specialists.”
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance by the competent merger control authorities.
Aramex India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) exporters in India.
As part of the MoU, Aramex India will provide member MSMEs preferential pricing, as well as access to online services for express cross-border shipments. FIEO members can access these services including creating pickup requests, preparing shipments, and making online payments through a dedicated Aramex banner on the FIEO website. In addition, Aramex will provide helpdesk support to first-time exporters and MSMEs on customs regulations in Middle East, Africa and Asia, as well as the required paperwork for shipping.
Percy Avari, General Manager of Aramex India, said, “Aramex recognizes the critical role of small businesses in driving socio-economic growth. Our partnership with FIEO is part of our commitment to help Indian MSMEs capture global market opportunities by providing access to cost-efficient, seamless, and reliable logistics solutions.”
Dr Ajay Sahai, Director General and CEO of FIEO, said, “The Indian e-commerce market is expected to grow to $200 billion by 2026 and has transformed the way business is done in India. The MoU will further help FIEO to reach the cottage industries, artisans, house-wives, youths, MSMEs and clusters, even in far-flung areas to develop their orientation towards exports. He added that FIEO members will get flat 30% discount on routing service tariffs for express cross-border shipments which will encourage them to start e-commerce exports in a cost-competitive way.”
Cartlow, the region’s leading re-commence and reverse logistics facilitator in the UAE, has recently launched its first B2B wholesale marketplace channel, ‘b2b.cartlow.com’. The new platform aims to offer retailers and resellers an easy and reliable way to source pre-owned and discounted inventory which includes; overstock, returned, refurbished, and liquidation inventory.
The objective of the new B2B platform launch is to grant traders and resellers access to hundreds of products at below wholesale market prices for used, refurbished, and liquidation products, such as; mobile phones, laptops, desktops, tablets, appliances, and fragrances. Over the past few years, many of Cartlow’s partners expressed the need for a new and efficient wholesale re-commerce platform. Through b2b.cartlow.com, retailers will be able to target a whole new segment of buyers, reaching resellers, increasing recovery value, and moving inventory faster than usual. In addition, this new innovative platform will be powered by superior data analytics and pricing algorithms which will optimise sell-through for retailers and ensure higher margins for them.
Mohammad Sleiman, Founder & CEO at Cartlow, said: “As we move forward with building our industry-leading reverse logistics ecosystem in the region, our latest B2B channel is set to revolutionize a new approach that will generate greater value for SME resellers. B2B.Cartlow will provide easy access to inventories that were previously only accessible to the largest liquidators, in addition to facilitating them with a wider reach from regional resellers.”
B2b.cartlow.com is the first wholesale re-commerce website for retailers and resellers to have access to a rich overstock inventory of more than 30 categories, which include: Electronics, Home & Gardening, Clothing & Accessories, Toys & Baby Goods, Health & Fitness, and many other products. The platform also offers retailers peace of mind with their return and warranty applicability on the bulk pre-owned stock. In addition, Cartlow’s refurbished items sold through its latest platform have a 99 per cent accuracy rate based on its rigorous inspection and product recovery process. As such, buyers no longer need to worry about or feel the risk of sourcing liquidated inventory. Furthermore, B2B.Cartlow will enable entrepreneurs and small business owners by offering them an easy way to source discounted inventory from leading retailers and brands.
Since its inception in 2019, Cartlow has been working alongside several well-trusted global brands and recognized household names, helping them turn over their inventory while reducing unsustainable practices. The pioneering re-commerce provider has helped optimize businesses by purchasing slow-moving and returned/pre-owned or open-box products at a low market cost. All of Cartlow’s refurbished products are graded, tested, certified, and restored to their original condition before being sold to customers, retailers or resellers.
SEKO Logistics has appointed Craig Grossgart and Lisa Johnstone to its Global ocean product leadership team as it invests in growing its service offering and supporting clients dealing with continued turmoil in the international ocean freight market.
Craig becomes SEKO’s global lead for ocean as Senior Vice President of Global Ocean Product, based in Houston and reporting to Terry Unrein, Chief Commercial Officer, USA, while Lisa Johnstone joins SEKO as Director of Ocean Product, reporting to Craig.
Craig has over 20 years of experience in the logistics industry and has worked in various senior roles in international operations worldwide, including as CEO of Asia Container Terminal in Hong Kong, VP of Sub-Continent based in Mumbai and VP Emerging Markets at DHL, and VP America’s Ocean at Ceva Logistics. Prior to taking this new post with SEKO, he spent four years at Vice President – Key NVO’s at APL.
Lisa brings more than 20 years of supply chain management experience to the SEKO Ocean Product team having previously held the posts of Senior Global Director, Ocean Product/Pricing at AIT Worldwide Logistics, and VP of Ocean Operations & Procurement at GEFCO Forwarding. She joins SEKO from DHL Global Forwarding, where she was Regional Ocean Director – Central.
“Craig and Lisa are well-known and highly respected ocean market specialists and will play key roles in the next stage of our Global Ocean strategy as we deal with the current challenges in the market and help our clients manage and leverage the changes and opportunities which will emerge as the industry returns to some degree of normality in the year ahead,” Terry Unrein said. “We welcome Craig and Lisa to the SEKO team and are confident that their knowledge, skills, and experience will be a great asset to build on the growth in demand we are experiencing for our Ocean Product.”
Craig Grossgart said: “I’ve been an admirer of SEKO for some time in the way its people think outside the box and quickly pivot to address trends in the market. This alertness and drive to get clients through even the most difficult market challenges is bringing new business opportunities to the table from clients looking for innovation, Global reach and cost-saving solutions. With worldwide container port throughput forecast to grow by nearly 6% this year, in line with Global GDP, I’m excited to be joining SEKO at such an interesting time for the company and its clients. I expect to see a lot of new ocean business in 2022 and beyond because of what we can offer.”
In less than a decade, the company has firmly established a foothold in the highly competitive air cargo industry, increasing its freighter fleet from 4 to 7
The global air cargo industry grew by 3.8 percent in 2016 but it remains exceptionally challenged with issues on over capacity, security, political instability and a slowdown on world trade.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says strong growth was reported on cross bordere- commerce and pharmaceuticals, which could continue to offer opportunities for the air freight industry in 2017 and beyond.
“Looking ahead it remains unclear as to whether the recent momentum for air cargo is a start of a sustained, stronger growth trend or a potential false dawn. There are a number of competing drivers. On the one hand, the industry is reporting strong growth in areas such as cross border commerce and pharmaceuticals, which are expected to continue to offer opportunities for air freight in 2017 and beyond,” IATA says in its December 2016 market analysis.
“On the other hand, though, wider weakness in world trade conditions remains an ongoing concern. Moreover, the recent pick-up in populist and protectionist political rhetoric means that we may now have passed ‘peak trade openness’, which is likely to reduce tailwinds for global trade and air cargo in the years ahead,” it added.
Industry experts say the first quarter of 2017 brought in promising figures for a sustained upward trend. And the nonprofit group IATA is also optimistic the air freight sector will post at least a 5.5 percent growth this year with the e-commerce boom.
Rising above the challenges
But for some companies like Global Services Solution FZCO (GSS Aero), tough times are no barrier to rake in profits and propel growth where oppor-tunities are likely to be made. The company, which specializes in ACMI and charter flights out of its hub in the UAE, consistently posted 20-25 percent growth for three consecutive years now ending in 2016.
“We had been growing consistently in the last three years at an average 20-25% and in 2016, we performed exceptionally well with sales
turnover of AED142 million,” Shekar Gunasekaran, founder and CEO of GSS Aero, told Air Cargo Update. The company also expanded its
services this year with the launch of the VIP passenger charter department.
“This year, we started our VIP passenger charter department to cater to our regular customers. Despite stiff competition from wellestablished players in the market, it’s showing good results less than a year since being introduced,”
Gunasekaran shared and expressed optimism that with the core strength of the company’s staff coupled with his partners’ support, the venture will also be successful.
Building capacities and reputation
Though relatively new in the market, GSS is run by well-experienced industry proffessional whose collective ideas and strategies make
a difference.
Add to that is the company’s huge investments on assets that speed up the freight process and ensure unmatched reliance on delivering
goods on time, practically anywhere in the world.
Gunasekharan said with acquisition of three more planes, their fleet would be beefed to seven freighters.
“We are an asset-based company. We currently own four freighters in our fleet and will add another three planes this year to our growing fleet to cater to the growing charter market in the region. In addition, we also have long-term contracts with various customers that allow us to operate our freighters extensively in the region to cater to South Asia/Iraq/ Somalia and African market on a regular basis depending on customer’s flexibility,” he said.
For the most part, GSS is known for ACMI and charter brokering, a highly-competitive specialization in the air cargo industry with only the
most stable companies managing to survive.
Gunasekaran agreed saying he has seen a number of companies charter brokers declined, preferring those on with known reliance
professionalism as clients.
Apart from GSS’s growing assets, it also has well-trained and highly professional staff who can deal with clients any time of the day to solve problems.
“ We also specialize in crews management, in-house 24 x 7 flight operation team, direct contract with fuel suppliers, engineering support
and own AOC,” said Gunasekaran.
GSS clients include some of the biggest and well-reputed in global trade such as Rus Aviation, Chapman Freeborn, WFP, KTZ Express, SFS,
Fast Logistics, Flying Carpet, UPS, Kuehne Nagel, among others.
“These customers are with us for several years and contribute to our growing success” said Gunasekaran.
To date, GSS has 23 staff in the UAE; two in Houston, and; 11 in Moldova. All of whom are extended appropriate trainings to keep up with
the needs of the industry.
Gunasekaran said their staff work as a team are continuously encouraged to learn new things for their professional benefits.
“We believe in our staff strength and consistently encourage them to elevate to next level within the organization and provide support /
encourage-ment to them in professional and personal level,” he said.
Vision 2017 and beyond With solid financial footing and an astute management, GSS is now embarking on overseas expansion plans, to further widen its international presence among potential clients. It is also buying three more B747 freighter planes. On top of that, the company has just opened its new office in Houston, Texas and is now on the final stage of setting up similar offices in Hong Kong and Europe.
“Year 2017 is very important in the history of GSS since we have already opened office in Houston, USA and in addition, we will be taking delivery of our first B747-400F freighter followed by 2nd and 3rd aircraft in the month of Sept and Oct 2017. We are also in the final stage to open office in Hong Kong and have European AOC,” said Gunasekaran.
A well-reputed executive in the industry, Gunasekaran says his vision is to make GSS a global brand known for its one stop cargo
services.
“We have strong presence in the
UAE market and would like to brand our company as one stop destination for all charter requirements since our company is unique because of the wealth of experience our directors have in all fields of sales, operations, engineering, aircraft management, ground handling and flight support service. In the coming years, we would like our company’s presence felt in Far East, Europe,the Middle East and to a great
extent in North & South America,” the GSS founder & CEO said.
And like others, Gunasekaran is also upbeat about Dubai hosting the World Expo 2020. The event is largely seen to fuel economic activities in many fronts, including aviation and logistics.
“It’s very important not only to our industry but in totality since this automatically increases the volume of logistical business in coming years and have positive impact in our charter department to import some urgent project cargo to UAE from various part of the world,” he said. “We expect the cargo industry to see substantial growth in light of Expo 2020.”
About Shekar Gunasekaran
Steering the wheel for GSS Aero is the pragmatic and enterprising Shekar Gunasekaran, the company’s founder and chief executive officer.
Born and raised in eastern India’s Chennai, the physics graduate Gunasekaran began his career in the aviation industry in 1990 with the
Pakistan International Airlines. He later joined Russia’s Aeroflot, where for the most part, he dealt with charter flights for large pharmaceutical companies transporting goods to Russia and CIS.
In 2003, Shekar relocated to Dubai to join Hellmann Worldwide Logistics where he made a name for himself by “winning big contracts.” This dramatically changed his reputation in the industry such that by 2009, he managed to set up GSS.
By 2012, GSS acquired its first aircraft. Today, its fleet will soon be made up of seven freighters with the acquisition
of three more B747 this year.
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