THE FUTURE of the airfreight industry is all about e-commerce, and the development of the Global Freight Exchange (GF-X) internet transactions platform is essential if airlines are to sustain continuing double-digit growth figures.
That was the message Ram Menen, Emirates SkyCargo director gave to delegates who attended the official launch of the new system in Dubai recently.
Trading via the new service began on January 15 this year, and first results of the initiative show that even in its early stages the Dubai market is among the most advanced in electronic trading, said Menen.
Hugh Pride, director of IT for the Emirates Group and its Mercator system, said the link between GF-X and Mercator extends the multiple benefits of e-commerce to the air cargo industry.
Our joint agreement will ensure that the Middle East air cargo community is at the forefront of this exciting new technological development. But GF-X is much more than technology. It is about changing the way that cargo business is done, he said.
He was joined by David Ravech, co-chief executive of GF-X, who said a strong presence in Dubai was essential for any truly global technology initiative.
Dubai forwarders have already shown that they have the infrastructure and technical skills to migrate rapidly to global best practice in electronic trading, he said. The results suggest that more GF-X carriers will now open their Dubai capacity to electronic trading.
Among companies in the pilot project are GF-X's existing global partners Danzas AEI, DHL Aviation NV and Emirates SkyCargo, with a number of new forwarders who are joining the exchange, including Freightworks, Gulf Agency Company, Inchcape Shipping Services, JAS Middle East and Trident Freight.
Swisscargo, a further existing GF-X global member, will be adding routes out of Dubai and will be available on GF-X screens during the next few weeks.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
