North America’s first New Generation Airport Cargo Community System developed by Kale in partnership with Atlanta Air freight community and Atlanta airport goes live at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport
17 Dec, 2019
MUMBAI, December 17, 2019: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports along with the airfreight community in Atlanta had embarked on the journey of creating North America’s First New Generation Air Cargo Community System in partnership with Kale Logistics Solutions (Kale), a leading provider of IT solutions to the global logistics industry. Kale’s Airport Cargo Community System (ACS) is a digitalcollaborative platform to help all stakeholders to electronically communicate within themselves and with other stakeholders like Customs, Shippers, Airlines, Trucking Companies, Customs Brokers, Freight Forwarders and Cargo Handlers. It facilitates the movement of goods and information at the airport and aids in digital interactions, in conformance to initiatives around e-freight, e-AWB, PLACI and e-CSD.
Air cargo is a critical economic generator at Hartsfield-Jackson, creating more than 27,000 jobs in Georgia and triggering more than $6.7 million in revenue for metro Atlanta. In addition,with its capital improvement plan ATLNext, a 20-year blueprint for growth, the Airport is poised to modernize its Terminal, expand its cargo operations and add upto 1 million square feet of warehouse space. Whilst the airport is developing the physical infrastructure, ATL is now focusing on creating the new generation Digital infrastructure as well.
Earlier this year at Air Cargo Europe, a trade fair for air cargo and logistics in Germany, Atlanta Airport announced the ACS project along with a trade corridor between Atlanta and Schiphol airport. ACSaims at establishing not just a simple data sharing platform but a fully functional digital system that provides several features and benefits to each stakeholder in cargo like the shipper, consignee, forwarder, customs broker, ground handling agents, trucking companies, GSAs, security agencies, regulatory agencies, airlines, bonded truckers etc.
Kale team successfully completed the Proof of Concept in August 2019 and the parallel-run was initiated in November 2019. The platform went live on 14 November 2019, making Atlanta the first airport in North America to launch such a system.The platform has been eliminating duplicate data entry work, excessive documentation, addresses the truck congestion and wait-time issues and brings in the requisite transparency to reduce overall logistics costs along with enabling better supply chain planning.
With Air Cargo operations being dynamic and complex, , Kale is working closely with Microsoft to implement Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning into the ACS system to address any exceptional scenarios. The system can then intelligently predict, assign and if required prioritize the allocation of docks for trucks waiting at the marshalling yard.
Kris Northup, International Business Development Manager with Southeastern Freight Lines, who was a very active member of the steering committee and a pilot member for the ACS said, “With the leadership of Kale Logistics Solutions and the Atlanta Airport, the Air Cargo Community System will forever change the way air cargo is handled in Atlanta and throughout North America.”
Senator Dale Rutledge, VP J&P Hall Express mentioned “We truly believe the ACS platform will be a game changer in the Atlanta air cargo handling process, just like the internet changed our business world 30 years ago. All the stakeholders: airlines, ground handlers, freight forwarders, and truckers who do not get onboard the ACS platform will be left behind. They might as well dust off using fax machines. ACS is a proven system in other major international airports overseas, and Hartsfield Atlanta is the first in the United States to have the luxury of getting onboard. We would like to thank the Hartsfield Cargo Operations team and Kale Logistics Solutions for allowing J&P Hall Express to be a part of the successful implementation process.”
Ben Harris, Director,SupplyChainEcosystemExpansion, Metro Atlanta Chamber, speaking on this occasion said, “It is indeed great to see this pioneering effort taking place in Atlanta. This will surely help us attract more cargo business to the Atlanta metro, thereby creating new jobs and helping the economic growth of the region. This will also reduce the overall supply chain costs making the products manufactured in Georgia even more competitive.”
Sonny Trawick, International Quality Assurance Manager R&L Global Logistics said “As consumer buying and shipping trends continue to grow and evolve worldwide, so do our services and technology to meet those demands. I am proud to present Atlanta’s Air Cargo Community System, first of its kind in North America. The ATL ACS provides enhanced visibility of orders moving throughout the supply chain, while providing more streamlined data exchange,thus moving your cargo more seamlessly from Point A to Point Z. Gone are the days of contacting multiple agencies to locate a status update on your shipment, as the ATL ACS is your new single resource for all progress reports on your moving products.”
Graison Johnson, General Manager, Business Development – Administration, ATLFreight.com, LLC., who was also a part of the pilot member team said “In my opinion, if the logistics community truly comes together to facilitate the proper use of this system, it will change how we transport Air Cargo forever. This system has the ability to alleviate airport traffic congestion, waiting times at Cargo Handlers and increase profitability for all parties involved.”
Speaking on the development Donna M Mullins, Sr. Consultant, Mullins International Solutions says; “I am delighted to see this kick-off in my hometown. I look forward to leading this revolutionary concept and great team across the nation digitizing airports and evolving air cargo movements.”
Brooke Fleming, Branch Manager – Atlanta, Agility, mentioned, “As someone who has been a part of the air freight industry in Atlanta for more than 20 years, I am honored to be part of the team shaping this innovative initiative. The ability to communicate electronically with our stakeholders like Trucking companies and Cargo Terminal Operators to obtain shipment statuses online is definitely going to help us in planning our operations better and deliver better services to our customers.”
Roy Copening, General Manager – Swissport Atlanta, who was a key member of the Steering Group said, “It’s a matter of pride for Swissport-ATL for being part of this pioneering effort at ATL wherein the community got together to address the issues through next generation technology for the first time in North America. Getting shipment information in advance through the system is going to help cargo handling companies like us in improving planning and efficiency of operations ensuring faster turnarounds of trucks at the cargo terminals. We are also pleased that this system will now allow all stakeholders to interact and be on the same platform and will allow us all to better communicate more efficiently to add in planning and better service our customers”.
Speaking on the occasion, Elliott Paige,Airport Director, Air Service Development at Atlanta Airport said, “We are excited by the possibilities that lie in store for us with Atlanta Airport’s Cargo Community System, especially the reduction in truck dwell time. The scope of availability of accurate and complete information before the truck arrival has been leading to clarity, cooperation and understanding amongst the stakeholders. This initiative demonstrates the airport’s commitment to be the bell-weather in creating the new generation digital infrastructure at the airport. It is also the keystone for facilitating the digital trade corridor between Atlanta and Schiphol airport.”
Emphasizing on the collaboration, Amar More, Director& CEO, Kale Logistics Solutions, said, “We are delighted to partner with Atlanta Airport& the air freight community in Atlanta, in this unique initiative on their path towards digitalization. As a leading community system provider, Kale Logistics Solutions is uniquely positioned to enable digitalization of the air cargo community of Atlanta airport. We are very proud to be part of being North America’s first new generation air cargo community platform and promise our full support in creating world-class digital infrastructure at ATL. I salute the enthusiasm and commitment of ATL and the airfreight community in ATL. No wonder Atlanta has a special place in history. After receiving recognition for creating digital communities around airports and ports from United Nations and several neutral trade bodies, we are proud to be part of this path-breaking initiative in North America. We are committed to creating such digital logistics communities at other ports and airports in North America and across the globe. These communities are sure to change the way air cargo business has been happening thus far.”
