In a fiercely competitive market where margins are constantly under pressure, delivering the optimal mix of price and service is a challenge. “Something will need to give in the market,” says airfreight general manager of neutral consolidator CFR Freight, Stephen Bishop, “and that starts with operators not constantly undercutting each other in order to offer the lowest price.” But while price is a key element, it’s only part of the equation, says Bishop. “It’s more about meeting customer expectations at every level. “On imports, for example, capacity remains a challenge – but with the assistance of our partners within our AirCargoGroup network, we have several hard block agreements on our major import routes to cater for this.” For the future, investment in IT is high on the agenda. “We still operate in a largely antiquated industry where there is an overreliance on paperwork, with multiple manual capturing of information – test weights on shipments, tracking of cargo, posting and release of cargo etc. At CFR Freight, we have invested heavily in IT development with a view to integrating more with clients and service providers.” Ultimately, consolidation of cargo is based on the simple principle of providing the best mix of price and cost. “Through investment in IT and quality staff, and increasing our buying power we’re confident that we will get better at this simple principle every day.”
