Enterprise Resource Planning: A ‘mission control’ for business functions in the air cargo industry
“ERP can be thought of as the glue that binds together the various systems that an organization might use. By having one application with one inteace, ERP allows the different depaments to communicate and share information across the organization more easily.” – Tristan Koch, Awery Aviation Soware Chief Executive Officer
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems facilitate the flow of information between functions
within an organization and its suppliers and customers. Air cargo companies have been using ERP systems for many years to manage and plan the movement of air freight cargo.
An ERP system for a cargo airline typically includes modules for: inventory and warehousing, freight forwarding, air cargo tracking, airplane loading and unloading and customs and border management.
Air cargo is a fast-paced, high-volume industry that needs a comprehensive ERP system to manage its complex operations. An ERP system can help air cargo businesses streamline their processes, improve communication, and make better decisions.
Some of the benefits of ERP in the
air cargo industry include:
1. Improved communication and coordination between departments.
2. Real-time data analysis for better decision-making.
3. Streamlined processes and improved efficiency.
4. Increased visibility into the supply chain.
5. Enhanced customer service.
6. Reduced costs.
The global enterprise application market size is estimated to be worth $259.51 billion by the end of 2022, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a 7.8% CAGR during the forecast period.
Tristan Koch, CEO of Awery Aviation Software, explains why ERP is a necessity in the air cargo industry and how it allows air cargo bus ines ses to manage their operations more efficiently and effectively, leading to a better customer experience in an email interview.
Integrating cargo work flow
An ERP software system can help businesses in the cargo industry manage and integrate their various processes and components in one place. Such a system can integrate all workflows from flight planning, crew management, flight manifests, sales, marketing, finance, human resources and much more.
“ERP can be thought of as the glue that binds together the various systems that an organization might use. By having one application with one interface, ERP allows the different departments to communicate and share information across the organization more easily.
“This allows the different departments to communicate and share information across the organization more easily. The Awery ERP is also valuable in creating efficiencies across the workstreams and in providing real time-shared information about the activity and state of different divisions, to enable quicker and better-informed decisions to be made,” explains Koch.
Web-based ERP solution
A good ERP system can make all the difference in air cargo companies, helping to manage and streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. When choosing an ERP system, it is important to make sure it is tailored to the specific needs of the air cargo industry, according to Koch.
“Awery’s ERP applications can help a corporation become more self-aware and collaborative by joining up data and information about shipment management, sales, finance, warehousing, and people together. Awery ERP can provide a full turnkey solution tailored to a customer’s needs or it can connect different 3rd pay technologies used by each pa of a business.
“It helps reduce and remove costly manual duplication of data entry and incompatible technologies. For example, you can use Awery’s accounting package, or we integrate a 3rd party solution like SAGE. Each customer can define their own modular system.”
Awery ERP are now all cloud-based solutions using AWS (Amazon Web Services).
“We can, if a customer requires, offer physical server solutions. The advantages of cloud-based software is that it offers remote, web-based access making it a much more flexible tool.”
Moreover, an ERP promotes the free flow of communication across an organization and results in increased synergies between different business areas, increased efficiencies as processes are streamlined and information is readily accessible to those that need it; and reduced costs associated with outdated and ineffective technology.
Tristan states that adopting an ERP may be a costly endeavor, but the return on investment (ROI) may be achieved quickly. Most certainly, the benefits realized (e.g., increased productivity and reduced administrative costs) may far outweigh the costs to introduce an ERP.
Why the air cargo industry should adopt ERP?
Founded over 30 years ago, Awery has over 80 clients worldwide and it’s been widely used by the aviation sector across Cargo Airl ine s , GS SAs , Cha rt e r brok e r s , ECommerce providers and various other aviation service providers.
Geographically, Awery solutions are being used widel y a c ros s the European marketplace with existing and rapidly growing presence in Asia and the United States.
Awery has developed a number of solutions designed to be easily integrated with other providers’ software.
One of Awery’s key standout strengths is its ability to provide cutting edge technology to any organization regardless of that organi z a tion’ s own technologi c a l parameters.
“Additionally, we have differentiated ourselves from our competitors by offering our products either as a white label option, where customers apply their own branding and logo to our software, or as Awery technology available on the open cargo marketplace.
Our eMagic AI One of Awery’s key standout strengths is its ability to provide cutting edge technology to any organization regardless of that organization’s own technological parameters.
“We have developed a number of AI (Aificial Intelligence) tools that reduce a lot of the manual workload that has plagued the industry. for example conves inbound email text and images to digital transactions,” said Koch.
Integration with 3rd party systems to provide key connectivity is also essential as often clients require bespoke customization that relies on additional software. Awery provides that digital bridge.
Ensuring regulatory compliance
Koch said the visibility of your resources are critical to effectively managing them. And that data is the new global currency and utilizing this means more efficient processes. Regulation and security remain at the top of the agenda. Awery had successfully developed tools within its ERP that ensure regulatory compliance as well as on financial (reporting and tax requirements) and labor laws. Thus, using Awery ERP eliminates costly errors and, reduces manual processing of data and provides commercial advantages through business cycle synergies, real time analytics best user experience and quickest time to market. “At Awery, we provide a plug and play ERP solution. Expectations from today’s users are that it should be as intuitive as using your smartphone. We actually do UX (User Experience) testing of some of our products. For example, our CargoBooking portal which gives the best and easiest UX of any online Air Cargo booking portal, we trialed on my two daughters who as teenagers are used to being able to buy any product or service in a few clicks. With no industry experience within 15 minutes, they were able to make AWB bookings – that was when we knew we had got it right,” Koch concludes.
