Digitalisation could bring shippers close to airlines but wouldn’t eliminate the role of forwarders: Tigist Eshetu

Explaining why forwarders need to stay in between, Tigist Eshetu, Regional Director – Indian Subcontinent, Ethiopian Airlines, says, “Shippers are only at one end of the transaction, they almost always need freight forwarders to bridge with their buyers. One of such requirements is management of all stakeholders involved end to end up to delivery. Secondly, knowledge related to customs clearance, transport planning and freight rate reduction via consolidation, end to end planning remains the core competence for the freight forwarders; digitalisation at the airline side wouldn’t change these.”
“Shippers which usually operate via banks and with letter of credit still rely on forwarders to pull their cargo out of the expensive carrier warehouses till cash against document cycles are finalised. Digitalisation could bring shippers close but wouldn’t eliminate the role of forwarders,” she adds.