The system allows stakeholders to communicate electronically with each other and the PayCargo payment platform underpins the community system
PayCargo has collaborated with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and IT business Kale Logistics Solutions to set up the first air cargo community system (ACCS) in the USA.
The PayCargo platform underpins the ACCS, using application programming interface (API) to facilitate the integration with Kale in the system, giving all stakeholders visibility of the payment status, eliminating delays or unproductive truck trips for shipment pick-up from the hub.
The ACCS allows stakeholders to communicate electronically with each other, as well as shippers, airlines, trucking companies, customs brokers, freight forwarders and cargo handlers.
“It is a big thing for us to be involved with as these air cargo community systems are the future of the industry,” said Lionel van der Walt, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Americas.
“In Europe they have been leading the way, but this approach has only been established here for the first time in the USA.
“The USA is behind the curve at the moment and this is just the start, as other airports in the USA are also talking about setting up air cargo communities. It is something that is really needed by the airports to drive future growth.
“We are leading the way on the payment side and it is a natural progression for us to partner with companies for the future of air cargo in the US.
“From our perspective it is great, and we are open to further collaboration and partnering up with companies in the value chain such as air cargo communities.”
The ACCS also facilitates and streamlines the transportation of goods and information, to, and from, the Georgia state airport, which is one of the busiest in the USA.
It has been used to eliminate duplicate data entry work, and excessive documentation, and addresses truck congestion issues, enabling improved customer focus and expedited processes.
“We are proud of partnering with PayCargo and happy that their payment platform is powering North America’s first community system,” said Amar More, Director, Kale Logistics.
“The integration of PayCargo with the community system, all relevant parties have the visibility of the payment status.”
Kale is also working with Microsoft to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the ACCS, enabling it to handle complex airfreight-related scenarios that could arise at the airport or elsewhere in the supply chain.
Since it was put into operation, the airport said the ACCS has been improving its airfreight operations and reducing overall logistics costs to enable better supply chain planning.
“The realization of the first air cargo community system in North America, has been one of the greatest rewards of our joint efforts,” said Linda Eshiwani-Nate, senior air service development officer at Atlanta International Airport.
“Add that to the fact that it all happened in less than one year, and you quickly realize that you are surrounded by a great community made up of strategic, innovative, persistent and committed leaders from all ends of the supply chain, who joined efforts in creating this system.”
Donna Mullins, President and CEO, Mullins International Solutions, the senior consultant to Kale in the initiative, said more than 20 stakeholders had joined the ACCS, including ground handlers, freight forwarders, airlines and trucking companies.
“The ground handler Swissport has said to me that it has been beneficial to them as they know what is being picked up and what cargo is coming in and they have started pre-pooling of air waybills,” said Mullins.
