Integration provides leading edge

Electronic solutions have
become increasingly
critical in the airfreight
industry which relies on
fast, efficient and dedicated
freight services. So much
so that these solutions are
determining the future
of the industry, says Alwyn
Rautenbach, CEO of
Airlink Cargo.
“The optimisation of
the entire supply chain and
freight process is dependent
on electronic solutions,”
he said.
“It is an incredibly
important means of
facilitating operations and
it also forms the basis of
integrating to a worldwide
network,” he said. “Customs
authorities are increasingly
requiring electronic formats.”
Airlink Cargo provides
a cargo service both
domestically and regionally
in southern Africa.
“By utilising good
electronic systems one
can optimise the cargo
processes and ensure an
entirely streamlined air
cargo operation from start
to finish,” said Rautenbach.
“A more effective supply
chain process is part and
parcel of the benefit because
the integration of systems
can contribute to giving the
leading edge in both product
and service efficiency.”
And of course it reduces
costs as there is less labourintensive
manual work
and less human error in
the process.
“The trend to move to
more electronic systems has
been ongoing for sometime,”
Rautenbach said. “We
have seen more electronic
verification security
procedures being developed
as well electronic booking
systems, communication
with customers and then the
track and trace of cargo and
the electronic airway bill. All
of this results in the faster
and smoother clearance
of cargo while it helps to
eliminate the non-compliant
agents from
the system.”
A major challenge in
southern Africa is the slow
Internet connections with
bandwidth not on par with
other international countries.
“With the implementation
of electronic solutions,
staff has to be thoroughly
trained to use the systems,
and awareness around their
capabilities and optimisation
must be exposed,” said
Rautenbach. “Informing and
training the customer on
the system, its capabilities
and possibilities to increase
efficiency in the cargo
process takes time, but is
extremely important.”