Emphasizing the need for digital freight forwarding

Christos Spyrou is the founder and CEO of Neutral Air Partner – a Hong Kong-based global network of air cargo architects and aviation specialists, and is also the founder and CEO of Aero Africa – an air cargo management group dedicated to providing African airfreight logistic solutions and neutral value-added services to the global logistics and aviation community. Christos comes with experience from 4 continents, 8 nations, and 30 years within the global air cargo logistics industry. He specializes in various air cargo sectors, including advanced air freight consolidation management, neutral airfreight wholesale, ULDs utilization and equalization, gateway planning, networking, and to effective selling and sourcing for the professional airfreight consolidator and forwarder.

COVID-19 has ensued a new normal for the logistics industry globally. According to you, how has this affected the supply chain? This year has been unprecedented. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused considerable damage to various industries worldwide and has undoubtedly disrupted the airfreight industry and is still challenging it.

The pandemic has caused disruptions to the global supply chain due to airfreight capacity shortages arising from global lockdowns and passenger flight suspensions. Air cargo has played a vital role in contributing to the operating financial targets of flights in the air, and the need to start preparing for the post-COVID-19 period is imperative. The survival of the air cargo industry depends on the successful resurrection of passenger aircraft parked in various locations globally, back in traffic, as essentially, 80% of international cargo is carried in the belly of passenger flights. Forwarders and consolidators have to rethink their entire supply chain products and services. Airlines need to plan their capacity and diversify their global customer base by including smaller but dynamic cargo sales agents in the game.

Kale Logistics Solutions believes in staying with the times, and we have been pioneers in bringing the best technology to our industry. How have our solutions helped the freight forwarders community? Please elaborate.

Kale Logistics Solutions is a trusted and multi-awarded global IT solutions partner for the logistics industry encompassing Neutral Air Partner members. Kale’s solutions will help NAP members, including freight forwarders, consolidators, and GSAs, achieve faster growth, along with standardized and paperless processes and operational efficiencies. Kale’s solutions strengthen operational and business capabilities. We are delighted to appoint Kale Logistics Solutions as a strategic IT vendor to our air cargo logistics network.

Kale has an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities that define the air cargo industry and provide the technology for the next- level of air cargo operations.

Digital freight forwarding is a must-have in today’s digital age. How has digitalization not only streamlined the fragmented industry of freight forwarding but has made it effective and transparent for all the stakeholders involved in the supply chain?

The global air cargo industry is expanding its digital processes. Globally, the volume of air cargo movement is ever-increasing, and airports across the world are trying to keep pace with the expansion in terms of infrastructure, workforce and level of automation.

Airlines around the world have already started to eliminate traditional paper-based systems by switching to digitalization, using air freight software, ULD measuring digital devices, applications for declaring dangerous goods and web-based booking and tracking platforms to monitor the movement of shipments in real time.

Technology adoption for air cargo management is on the rise with freight forwarders, integrators and airports. Ground handlers and providers are required to make slot reservations on digital platforms, raise efficiency, and optimize costs and sustainability through visibility and effective data-sharing.