Cargo iQ is rolling out a new tiered certification program to articulate clear quality expectations for its members.
The tiered certification program will help members, old and new, to develop staggered implementation plans as the tiers reflect the level at which a member has implemented Cargo iQ’s operational milestones, allowing them to use the data to gradually improve.
“The introduction of a tiered structure will allow our members to accurately map their quality progress, being able to identify areas that require further improvement” said Kerstin Strauss, VP, Global Air Logistics Operations and Governance at K+N, Chair of the Cargo iQ Board.
The tiers, ranging from 1-3, will reflect the scores achieved by members after a data-driven assessment, which will check milestone capabilities and monitor how continuous improvement practises are being applied to operations.
Lean audits are also being introduced alongside the existing audit process so members can upgrade their tiers outside the usual audit cycle.
“Milestones such as the FWB will apply for all stakeholders: This is to reflect the commitment that Cargo iQ members make to jointly increase input and output quality and hold each other accountable. In this way we make a conscious shift from blame game to raising the game,” explained R.J Pegels, Director of Performance Management at AF/KLM Cargo and Vice Chair of the Cargo iQ Board.
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This program ties in with Cargo iQ’s membership engagement initiative, which aims to increase engagement through a structured Member Journey Map review. This has been gradually introduced for new members since autumn 2024 and is now being extended to existing full members.
“The tiers system and member engagement initiative will allow the Board and management Team, to prioritize and tackle issues across the different quality levels.” Said Marie Seco-Köppen Executive Director, Cargo iQ.
“The membership will be in a better position to create future oriented standards without relying on the pace of the lowest common denominator.”
The first-tier system assessment will take place this summer, once the data reporting-specifications are upgraded. This will be followed by the incorporation of the new tiers matrix into the Smart Data platform in autumn 2025.
Cargo iQ is a not-for-profit quality standards group working to create and implement specifications to enhance the customer service experience of the global air cargo industry.
Originally founded by leading airlines and forwarders to improve reliability in the supply chain, Cargo iQ membership has grown to include more than 60 members from across the industry during its 25+ years of operation, including airlines, forwarders, ground handlers, IT solution providers, and Road Feeder Services (RFS), incorporating the small- to medium-sized (SME) community.
Members work together to develop a system of shipment planning and performance monitoring for air cargo based on common business processes and milestones. This Quality Management System (QMS) drives continuous improvement in member operations and forms the cornerstone of Cargo iQ’s work.
Members are externally audited at regular intervals for quality compliance as proof of their commitment to delivering quality-driven services and supporting real-time service delivery.
The organization is supported by IATA as one of its interest groups.
LOT Cargo, the air freight division of Poland’s national carrier, LOT Polish Airlines, has unveiled a new partnership. It will make the airline’s worldwide capacity available on cargo.one, the leading platform for digital air freight procurement and sales.
In the coming weeks, LOT services will be offered to cargo.one’s vast user base. This includes thousands of freight forwarding branches in every major cargo market. Doubling down on digital sales with cargo.one enables the carrier to elevate its brand presence and market agility. The carrier also benefits from digital best practices cargo.one has earned from digitalizing sales for over 65 airlines globally.
LOT Cargo offers sizable intra-European connectivity. It also provides direct, wide-body long haul capacity from Central and Eastern Europe to important hub airports in the United States, Canada, China, India, Japan, and South Korea. LOT leverages a modern cargo terminal at Warsaw Chopin Airport and extensive road feeder services. It offers forwarders fast and flexible services, as well as its renowned quality assurance. As part of its impressive growth strategy, LOT will grow its fleet from 75 to 110 aircraft in the upcoming years.
Forwarders in all corners of the world will shortly secure LOT Cargo’s extensive global capacity. They will do so using the most user-friendly booking and quoting method. With the widest choice of carrier and market combinations, cargo.one enables forwarders to win more shipments. It also helps increase their working speed and better deploy their teams.. Users also benefit from expert support and innovative tools for managing their shipments with ease.
Michał Grochowski, Head of Cargo and Mail at LOT Polish Airlines, commented, “As a go-to booking and quoting method with freight forwarders worldwide, cargo.one delivers LOT Cargo valuable opportunities to grow our sales and enhance the digital experiences we provide. As a partner, cargo.one offers uniquely strong technology and valuable digital procurement expertise, supporting LOT to ensure the very strongest end to end service delivery.”
Moritz Claussen, Founder & Co-CEO of cargo.one, added, “We continually bring to cargo.one the best available air capacity options, and it is great news for all forwarders that LOT Cargo services are now within user-friendly digital reach. cargo.one teams will play an exciting role in shaping the sales growth and evolution of LOT Cargo in the global market.”
Also Read: CargoMART Interline Revolutionizes Air Cargo Booking.
Expanding its digital sales with cargo.one enables LOT to greatly extend its distribution reach. The platform’s global footprint of 134 countries allows this at a low acquisition cost. cargo.one’s digital sales experience will equip LOT to raise efficiencies, make optimal use of sales teams, and respond dynamically to market-fit opportunities in all relevant markets.
From today, forwarders in the United States, Canada and Poland using cargo.one can quote and book LOT Cargo’s global capacity for general cargo shipments up to 1000 kg to popular destinations including London, New York, Miami, Tokyo, Seoul, Delhi, and Dubai. It is planned to launch additional markets and capacity products including perishables in the coming months.
AJEX Logistics Services (AJEX), a leading Middle East-based specialist in express distribution and shipping solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its AJEX Mobile App, revolutionizing the delivery experience for its customers. Designed to meet growing consumer demand for seamless and transparent logistics solutions, particularly across the e-commerce sector, the new application is set to redefine how AJEX engages its customers as part of its digital transformation efforts.
Offering unparalleled transparency, the AJEX Mobile App empowers users with both real-time and live tracking of their shipments. While real-time tracking provides visibility into the shipping process from pick-up to doorstep, users can additionally use live tracking to monitor the progress of their courier once they are on route to make their delivery. Besides real-time and live tracking, customers can receive timely updates on the progress of their delivery with push notifications.
The app also offers AJEX customers added convenience and control thanks to the ability to update their profile and delivery details, including up-dating or changing the delivery address. Beyond tracking, app users can also locate their closest AJEX service center and enjoy enhanced communication tools for connecting with AJEX customer support, all from the convenience of their smartphones.
“The AJEX Mobile App sets a new benchmark in the region’s express and e-commerce shipping sector thanks to its innovative live tracking feature. A real differentiator in the last-mile segment, not only can our customers track our couriers live, monitor our progress, and receive timely updates, but they can now customize delivery preferences. With these features, AJEX customers enjoy a personalized and reliable service that keeps them informed and in control at every step of their delivery journey,” said Shanvaz Mohammed, Chief Technology Officer at AJEX.
The AJEX Mobile App is part of the logistics company’s broader digital transformation strategy, which includes the launch of the AJEX Operating Network Experience (AONE), and advanced AI-powered tools aimed at streamlining logistics processes and elevating service quality. These innovations position AJEX as a leader in the Middle East logistics industry, offering scalable, customer-centric solutions that address the region’s unique delivery and shipping needs.
With this new digital tool, AJEX continues to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and exceptional customer service, reinforcing its reputation as a forward-thinking logistics partner. The Mobile App is now available for download in Saudi Arabia bringing convenience and transparency to the fingertips of customers.
Aurrigo International plc unveiled its latest autonomous technology, Auto-Cargo®, in Coventry, marking a significant milestone in airside logistics. The fully electric vehicle, developed in collaboration with UPS, Innovate UK, and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), is designed to autonomously transport heavy cargo loads of up to 16,500kg at East Midlands Airport, the UK’s second-largest cargo terminal.
David Keene, CEO of Aurrigo, stated, “This latest launch is another milestone moment for our business and extends our footprint in the aviation sector.” The vehicle features precision automation, advanced obstacle detection, and real-time fleet coordination, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Backed by Innovate UK and CCAV, Auto-Cargo® is set to transform airside logistics with its zero-emission technology. UK Minister for Industry & Decarbonisation, Sarah Jones, added, “Our modern industrial strategy will help build on successes like Aurrigo’s autonomous technology, bringing growth, jobs, and opportunities to every part of the UK.”
The vehicle, equipped with twin 18.4kW motors and four-wheel steering, can operate in severe weather and run for up to eight hours on a single charge. Aurrigo’s proprietary software ensures optimal performance, even in challenging conditions.
ShipStation, a leading provider of cloud-based shipping solutions from Auctane, today announces ShipStation API. This move aligns ShipStation’s powerful shipping platform with ShipEngine’s best-in-class API technology, creating a more robust and scalable solution for developers, merchants, and logistics teams.
By bringing ShipEngine under the ShipStation brand, this initiative streamlines resources, accelerates innovation, and strengthens ShipStation’s position as a leader in shipping technology. With an aggressive global expansion planned for the year ahead, ShipStation API will evolve in stages to enhance functionality, improve developer experience, and provide businesses with the most comprehensive shipping API available
Since 2017, ShipEngine has delivered the most developer-friendly, easy-to-integrate shipping solution for tech platforms and ecommerce merchants. With over 1 million users across 250 countries and territories, ShipEngine empowers businesses with access to 200+ carrier integrations—including local, regional, national, and international carriers as well as freight and LTL options. This extensive network powers the logistics and delivery of some of the most successful businesses globally, moving more than $80 billion in gross merchandise value.
“ShipStation has helped hundreds of thousands of businesses scale and deliver exceptional customer experiences, and ShipStation API is a major step forward in our mission to deliver best-in-class shipping solutions for all our customer’s needs,” states Kelly Vincent, Chief Product Officer of Auctane, ShipStation’s parent company. “By beginning the process of consolidating our API offerings, we’re giving our users access to more tools, more flexibility, and a more streamlined shipping experience.”
The unification process will start with ShipEngine rebranding into ShipStation API, and work will continue throughout the summer of 2025 to bring the powerful capabilities together into one API.
Almost the size of an American football field floating in the Indian Ocean, ‘Obaid’ is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden Arabic dhow.
DUBAI: Adorned with the colors of the flag of the United Arab Emirates, “Obaid”, which holds the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest wooden Arabic dhow measuring 91.47-meter long and 20.42-meter wide, proudly sails in the Indian Ocean carrying loads of cargo.
Named after Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al Falasi, an Emirati shipbuilder who began an apprenticeship at the age of nine in the mid-1940s, the dhow attests to the Emirati’s ingenious ability to build a sturdy a handmade boat made of wood despite their desert environment devoid of trees.
The length and almost half the width of a standard American football field, floating over the Indian Ocean, hypothetically speaking, balancing this huge structure on either its bow or stern vertically would make this dhow stand almost as tall as the Big Ben in London.
Decades on from the heyday of the Creek’s trading boats, a family-run yard still produces traditional hand-built vessels – and most importantly has just been recognized with the Guinness World Records title of the Largest wooden Arabic dhow.
Work on the majestic dhow started years ago, with no actual engineering vision or blueprints but was massively developed and scaled up. Local craftsmen say they own the experience, describing it as the ‘art of dhow building’.
According to Majid Obaid Al Falasi, aged 52, it is not for prestige that drove him to build the largest dhow, but for his late father, Obaid Jumaa bin Majid Al Falasi.
“Our forefathers were divers, our ancestors worked in the sea, and my own father perused this craftmanship for almost all his life. This is a gratitude to my father, and my country which always aims for the forefront positions,” said Majid Obaid.
“We tried to get the longest pieces of log available. We are born as dhow builders, and can build dhows using other material, but wood keeps its identity. This achievement is just the inevitable continuation for building dhows in the world,” he added.
A modern adaptation is adding steal to the wooden structure. The majestic dhow is larger and stronger than a traditional one, and will be able to carry four times more cargo in and out from Dubai’s docks.
“I see it in the eyes of my son. He is passionate about what I do, and what his grandfather used to do. This is what matters, for them to be able to continue the tradition and have it transferred to the next generation,” he elaborated.
The dhow stands at a height of 11.229 meters, and it weighs 2500 tonnes. It has been constructed from material sourced both locally and abroad and will have an estimated load capacity of up to 6,000 tonnes. There might be around 1700 tonnes of wood, and 800 tonnes of steel. The wood was brought from Africa, and it is mainly a jungle wood, as only nearly half of what you buy is usable.
Apart from the years of commitment and tens of dedicated skilful craftsmen, this iconic sailing vessel cost comes from the expenses of wood imports, and hundreds of thousands of nuts, bolts, screws and nails.
The dhow is powered by two 1850 horsepower engines and will used to transport cargo from the UAE to Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, India, and maybe Iraq. “At a speed of 14 knots, it will be enough for this dhow to operate and achieve its desired ROI. Who knows, you might see this dhow docking at different ports all across the world.”
DUBAI: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) marked with pride the first anniversary of the historic launch of the first Emirati to space and the first Arab to the International Space Station (ISS) as it looks ahead with the scheduled arrival on February 2021 in Mars of Hope Probe, the Arab world’s first mission to the Red Planet.
The Emirates Mars Mission, which has successfully cruised through the 100-million-km mark since its successful lift-off from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center on July 20, 2020, is seen to create “a giant leap in the country’s space technologies and open new horizons towards other space missions.”
On September 25, 2019, Emirati astronaut Hazzaa AlMansoori embarked on the 8-day mission onboard the Russian spacecraft Soyuz MS-15 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, a realization of the UAE’s Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the vision of the leadership to make the country a leading player in shaping the world’s future.
During the mission, AlMansoori conducted 16 scientific experiments in cooperation with international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA).
He studied reactions of vital indicators of the human body, including brain function, osteology, haemodynamics, motor control, time perception in microgravity and fluid dynamics in space, among others.
AlMansoori also conducted experiments involving schools in the UAE as part of MBRSC’s Science in Space initiative. In a joint project between MBRSC and JAXA, he live streamed from the ISS explaining how JAXA’s “Int-Ball”, a camera robot, worked on board the Station. A video conference was also held in cooperation with the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos, where students interacted with AlMansoori asking space related queries.
AlMansoori returned to Earth on October 3 after completing his eight-day mission on the ISS. Following the successful mission, MBRSC, through its Outreach Programme conducted events, workshops, conferences with various entities including academic institutions across the UAE with astronauts AlMansoori and Sultan AlNeyadi.
Interacting with people from all walks of life, the Emirati astronauts talked in detail about the importance of STEM subjects, their historic achievements, experiences, as well as the scientific and mathematical aspects of life as an astronaut.
More than 120,000 people from 35 entities have taken part in these interactive sessions with the Emirati astronauts since Hazzaa AlMansoori’s return. AlMansoori and AlNeyadi are currently undergoing advanced training at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, as part of the strategic partnership between NASA and MBRSC to train Emirati astronauts.
Meanwhile, Hope Probe will provide answers to long-standing questions about the Red Planet by becoming the first to study the Martian climate throughout daily and seasonal cycles. It will observe the weather phenomena in Mars such as the massive famous dust storms that have been known to engulf the Red Planet, as compared to the short and localized dust storms on earth.
Exploring connections between today’s Martian weather and the ancient climate of the Red Planet will give deeper insights into the past and future of Earth and the potential of life on Mars and other distant planets.
DUBAI: The largest mushroom farm in the UAE which produces about nearly 6 tons of mushrooms daily for local consumption and export relies on solar energy and technology to thrive in the region’s harsh weather condition.
Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, recently met with several local farm owners and discussed ways to enhance and support the emerging agri-tech ecosystem in the UAE, the Emirates news agency WAM reported.
The minister met farm owners, Dr. Ghanem Al Hajri and Ali Bujasim during a tour of the Themar Al Emarat hydroponic farm and the Alayas Farm, respectively.
Located in Sharjah, the 190,000 sqm Themar Al Emarat farm relies on solar energy for 50 percent of its power requirements— power for cooling equipment, water chilling, mushroom cultivation and other greenhouse processes.
It recycles 100 percent of its irrigation water. It also reuses the soil in its hydroponic system as an agricultural conditioner in traditional cultivation. The farm produces mushrooms, lettuce, and other crops used & consumed locally.
Meanwhile, Alayas Farm produces two tons of green fodder that are used as feed for its goats and poultry livestock. It also leverages hydroponics in cultivating vegetables.
The minister stressed that the UAE prioritises the use of agricultural technologies that increase crop production and quality and reduce the environmental footprint of farms across the country. He pointed out that MoCCAE endeavours to strengthen its partnership with major modern farms in the UAE to develop the sector and highlight these farms as successful examples of agri-tech at work.
DUBAI: The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has reached out to Dell Technologies in a bid to find future digital solutions that will further enhance its services across the emirate.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, presided over a recently held teleconference with Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Technologies, a global leader in telecommunications and information technology.
Moro Hub, the Emirates news agency WAM reported, is working with Dell Technologies to develop and deliver highly-reliable enterprise cloud computing solutions, integrated infrastructure administration services and servers, secure data storage solutions, and innovative information technology applications.
“DEWA and its subsidiary Moro Hub work in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who has mandated the Dubai Government organizations to implement services 10 years ahead of other cities around the world through government innovation through Dubai 10X initiative,” said Al Tayer.
“Our collaboration with Dell Technologies will enable MORO to introduce innovative applications and accelerate the delivery of digital services out of Dubai, which supports the UAE’s vision to become a vibrant regional hub that can serve the region and the world through its advanced facilities and infrastructure,” he added.
Dell thanked Al Tayer for the fruitful discussions and noted that Dell Technologies will work closely with Moro Hub to strengthen cooperation and partnership supporting the digital transformation plans of Dubai and the UAE, especially in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and IT security to leverage strong capabilities and ecosystem.
The two organisation collaborate in many areas, such as the development of cloud computing, e-security, automated learning (Artificial Intelligence), big data and analytics, storage, backup and archiving services, as well as providing technical infrastructure for the public and private sectors and service providers.
The meeting was attended by Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman of Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions); Matar Al Mehairi, Board member of Moro Hub; Mohammad Bin Sulaiman, CEO of Moro Hub; Ahmed Al Ketbi Chief Information Security Officer of Moro Hub; Adrian McDonald, President of Dell Technologies EMEA; Fady Richmany General Manager- Dell Technologies, and Yahya Kassab Director of Sales at Dell Technologies.
RDI is developing an innovative irrigation system to transform water usage in UAE agriculture and conducting research trials to increase crop yields in sandy soils and non-arable land. While locally-based company RNZ will set up a state-of-the-art R&D centre to research, formulate and commercialize ‘agri-input’ solutions that will help to grow more with less.
ABU DHABI: With investment totaling AED367 million (USD100 million), four agri-technology (AgTech) pioneers will build new facilities in Abu Dhabi dedicated to developing next generation agriculture in arid and desert agriculture.
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is providing the funding to AeroFarms, Madar Farms, RNZ and Responsive Drip Irrigation (RDI), to establish new R&D and production facilities in the emirate, turning sand into farmland, solving complex global agriculture challenges and expanding the profile of local food producers, the Emirates news agency WAM reported.
Under this partnership, each firm is tasked to solving regional and global food security challenges.
“Four global AgTech innovators are joining our mission to turn sand into farmland. In line with Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to grow the sector, ADIO partners with companies that have innovation at the core to help ensure long-term success. Each of these companies will add to our already established agriculture ecosystem, and benefit from our plentiful land, natural heat, competitive energy prices and access to research universities and skilled talent,” said Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of ADIO.
AeroFarms will focus on next-generation genetic phenotyping and organoleptic research while also tackling the challenges of desert agriculture from its new 8,200-sqm R&D center in Abu Dhabi. The center will be the largest indoor vertical farm of its kind in the world and will employ a projected 60 plus highly skilled engineers, horticulturists and scientists.
Madar Farms, a home-grown UAE AgTech innovator, will build the world’s first commercial-scale indoor tomato farm using only LED lights in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, KIZAD. The company is also set to scale up the commercialization of microgreen growing to help provide a consistent and predictable local food supply that responsibly uses the region’s natural resources.
RDI is developing an innovative irrigation system to transform water usage in UAE agriculture and conducting research trials to increase crop yields in sandy soils and non-arable land. While locally-based company RNZ will set up a state-of-the-art R&D centre to research, formulate and commercialize ‘agri-input’ solutions that will help to grow more with less.
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