C K Govil, President and Praveen Menon, Honorary Treasurer, Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) held a meeting recently with Jason Kuo, Executive Director of the International Ocean Freight Forwarders and Logistics Association of Taiwan (IOFFLAT) to discuss the expanding synergy between India and Taiwan. “India is growing as a potential market and investment destination and Taiwan is also looking to tap the potential and explore the business opportunities here,” said President.

Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) has been awarded the contract by dnata to digitalise cargo handling processes in a new warehouse the latter is creating, Freight Building 17 (FB17). Located within dnata’s Cargo City at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, HLT is collaborating with logistics systems supplier Lödige Industries (Lödige) to pioneer the fully automated cargo centre, following a multi-million-euro investment by dnata. FB17 will see the implementation of HLT’s latest cloud-based cargo management system, the Hermes Software as a Service (SaaS) Ecosystem, which will enable unparalleled operational efficiency, improved oversight, and greater control over all ground handling processes. “This project is a true testament to what can be achieved once the air cargo industry embraces digitalisation, and the creation of FB17 should herald a new age of warehouse innovation,” said Yuval Baruch, CEO, HLT. “The final integrated solution demanded complicated design, and is the result of strong collaboration and careful planning between HLT, Lödige, and dnata, representing a crucial step toward adapting to the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.” HLT has ensured communication between its cargo management system and Lödige’s warehouse management system is watertight to handle the large volume of data and information generated, which dnata’s operations will share at an unprecedented speed. “Our extensive development has resulted in an extremely sophisticated digital solution, which will enable dnata to meet more stringent Service Level Agreements related to efficiency,” added Baruch.

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) held its fourth Executive Committee (EC) Meeting in Mumbai to sensitize the FFFAI members regarding undue practices of authorities concerned as regards to Customs Brokers’ plights of being penalized for a matter without any involvement and responsibilities for the same. The session titled ‘Who will police the police’ was conducted by Sujay Kantawala, who is an eminent lawyer. Welcoming the Special Guest Speaker Sujay Kantawala, Dushyant Mulani, Chairman, FFFAI pondered on the importance of the subject of this session. He pointed out that the CB community often faces undue penalties imposed on them, Show Cause Notices are being issued, harassment and treated on par with exporters or importers for any mistakes done by their customers (importers or exporters). Kantawala, focused on Customs related issues and especially on misinterpretations of the CBLR/Customs Act by many Customs Officers. He raised the serious concern of accountability of Customs Officers. According to him, Citizen Charters displayed in Customs Offices do not make any sense in view of the ground reality. For example, after five years a CB is not required to maintain any records. However, he still receives Show Cause Notices (SCN) for the same. He also underscored many instances of serving SCNs to CBs for which he was not even remotely involved. He also stated that responsibilities on issues/disputes arising out of self-assessment are equal concerning involvement of a shipper and proper officer who is the final verifying authority on this matter. In his opinion, many times Customs Officers fail to adhere to the Guidelines issued by the CBIC. CBs should not be penalized for any error in this regard. Similarly, concerned Officers should …

Ayesha Katgara, Head – Corporate Strategy, Jeena & Company highlights key emerging trends and says, “With time, customer demands have changed, and expectations are on real-time data and therefore service providers across the globe are working towards meeting this demand. Supply chain agility & automation is something that the entire logistics sector is striving for. The more agile our supply chains are, better equipped we would be to face any sort of disruptions. This can be achieved through automation and digitization. With advancements in technology, there will always be something new to adopt and leverage for the sector to be at par with other industries. IOT and advanced analytics are crucial for customers. The industry has put emphasis on sustainability in a big way. Across the globe, many green initiatives have been undertaken or are in the pipeline for reducing carbon footprints.”

Nomita Kothari, CEO, New Globe Logistik says, “We are very active in adapting & implementing cutting-edge technology to our cargo business. We have introduced advanced data analytics platforms for comprehensive track and trace, end to end transparency, forecasting & offer automation solutions via EDI. These new technology innovations have resulted in faster and more cost-effective deliveries. Our emphasis on cloud-based solutions has facilitated seamless communication and collaboration across the supply chain, enhancing efficiency and transparency. Moreover, our commitment to continuous improvement drives ongoing research and development of innovative solutions, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation in the air cargo industry. Advanced tracking systems offer real-time visibility into shipments, optimizing route planning and minimizing delays. Automation and data analytics tools facilitate smoother operations, from booking to delivery, enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. Moreover, predictive analytics help forecast demand and optimize inventory management, enabling better resource allocation and cost savings.”

Kritika Seth, Head Business Development and Marketing, Allied Aviation shares, “Technology has significantly streamlined air cargo operations in recent years, enhancing efficiency and reliability. We at Allied also leverage real-time data from reliable sources. This allows us to gain instant insights into global air freight trends and market dynamics, enabling us to promptly identify gaps, support our partner airlines, and enhance overall performance. Furthermore, our subsidiary, Speedbox provides white-label digital solutions to logistics companies globally. This platform pioneers a range of tools and features, empowering logistics firms to digitize, optimize operations, and expand their market presence, showcasing our commitment to technological progress in the air cargo and logistics sectors.”

Indrani Chatterjee, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, Allcargo Group says, “Logistics has always been a service-driven industry. Given the dynamic nature of the industry, it is extremely encouraging to see that more and more logistics companies are emphasizing the role of inclusivity in driving innovation, service competency as well as industry and economic growth. Logistics companies are no longer employing women only in soft-skill driven roles. Women representation is gradually growing in skill and expertise-focused roles, both in entry-level operations-centric profiles and leadership positions. In line with this year’s theme of International Women’s Day – Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, we need to further broaden our perspective towards training and deploying more women professionals, as a robust women participation in the logistics workforce will further strengthen the industry service delivery capabilities. We should continue working towards building a convenient workplace environment along with offering comprehensive training and mentorships to women professionals to firm up workforce diversity.”

Flyjac Logistics has announced the grand opening of its largest Multi-Purpose Logistics Centre in Taloja, Mumbai, on March 7, 2024! This state-of-the-art facility is set to revolutionize the logistics experience.

Global sea freight rates are expected to stabilise after significant increases since last November, according to Turgut Erkeskin, President of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). The challenges in maritime shipping impact air freight as well, leading to higher prices compared to pre-COVID levels, he told Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the FIATA-RAME (Region Africa Middle East) held in Dubai. Erkeskin anticipates an increase in sea freight capacity and volume, potentially stabilising prices. While some routes remain unaffected, others, particularly in Africa and Europe, have seen significant rate hikes. He said that economic growth forecasts suggest a 2.4 percent increase in 2024, influencing logistics and freight operations globally. Foreign direct investment is shifting towards regions like the Middle East and Africa, impacting logistics activities, according to Erkeskin. The conference is essential in addressing current global supply chain challenges by bringing industry stakeholders together to improve supply chain efficiency and resilience. Dubai’s role as a major global trade hub adds significance to the event. Erkeskin emphasised the importance of alternative solutions to enhance global supply chain resilience and efficiency. These solutions include creating new trade routes, and alternative transit corridors, and leveraging digital transformation to boost the effectiveness of transportation and logistics processes.

Kerry Logistics Network announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Business By Air SAS (‘BBA’), a leading French international freight forwarding company, to strengthen KLN’s position in the EMEA region and international freight forwarding (‘IFF’) capabilities across the globe. An upstream supply chain specialist in air freight services for diverse industrial clients in verticals including automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical, as well as an established player in the African market, BBA has been acting as KLN’s agent in France since 2016. In addition to multimodal freight forwarding, customs clearance and nationwide trucking, BBA also offers a complete suite of supply chain solutions covering express, on board couriers, project cargo, as well as logistics for fine arts, perishables and personal effects. Vic Cheung, Group Managing Director of Kerry Logistics Network, said, “We are pleased to welcome BBA to KLN’s global network. The acquisition is a natural progression in our strategic pursuit of enhancing our IFF service offerings in the EMEA region. With France’s position as one of the world’s top exporting countries, the addition of BBA will significantly strengthen our foothold in the country. We are looking forward to the synergies created between KLN’s ocean freight capabilities and BBA’s air freight expertise, and the extension of our service into the niche verticals of fine arts and perishables, which will further boost our global coverage and competency to offer comprehensive and flexible solutions to customers.”