Piece counting when loading/unloading
a truck is automatic. Here, an overhead
screen shows what is being loaded
he asserts. By analysing the
current manual processes, like
piece counting or individual
bar code scanning, and
eliminating human error,
the time spent on these
aforementioned non-valueadded
activities can be reduced
dramatically.
Aside from cost reduction,
cost avoidance is also
a benefi t. Quality and
shipment control will deliver
savings of valuable minutes
per shipment, he relates,
resulting in a measurable
return on investment. “By
tracking individually tagged
pieces or skids in real time
we can provide operational
alerts to allow corrective
action during the process
The Cargocast software
interface
rather than investigation and trying to resolve issues after the
fact. The transparency that real time tracking provides reveals
what is really happening in a cargo facility enabling process
improvement.”
Real time analytics, meanwhile, allow for process optimisation
and enhanced warehouse utilisation. “It allows them to increase
productivity through better utilisation of staff, so during times
when getting good, trained staff is a challenge, they can still
manage growth with existing manpower,” Morey explains.
“The secret sauce is being able to recommend, install and
calibrate the best performing hardware, and build business rules
into our software using that data to provide clients with real time
visibility and analytics while having the ability to interface with
their existing warehouse management systems transparently.”
Take-up thus far
Backed by Tiger Global, Cargocast’s clients already include a
leading European ground handler and a top-fi ve freight forwarder.
Interested parties can see the solution, live, at the company’s
innovation lab in Atlanta, Georgia, where they perform product
development.
“As far as we know, we are the only ones in this space at the
moment,” relates Morey. “There are several RFID pilots, testing
proof of concepts that are either current or have been undertaken
by a number of organisations and consulting fi rms but no actual
complete product including the hardware, software and logistics
other than ours.”
The fi rst successful implementation of the solution is currently
in Phase I in Switzerland, with a number of pilots with major
freight forwarders, trucking companies, postal authorities and
ground handlers also under way. “The Phase I in Switzerland has
been in design and development for some time. Installation was
completed last autumn and we’re now monitoring performance
versus expectations, making a few adjustments and have designed
Phase II, which should be going forward in the coming weeks.
“Interestingly enough, several of the people we’re speaking
to right now have either experimented with or done some
amount of research on using RFID in the past and are now
realising that the cost of hardware and consumables, like
RFID tags, has come down drastically while the performance
has increased signifi cantly,” he says. “Making a case for this
type of technology has become much easier since we can now
demonstrate substantial return on investment.” He explains how
they demonstrate this. “Each customer is a bit different of course,
which is why we conduct a
detailed assessment of their
current business then design
and propose a solution that
is the most benefi cial and
cost effective for them. We go
through a detailed analysis
with clients to validate all the
numbers and assumptions,
propose detailed design and
deployment plans, which then
determines the ROI.
“Each operation has their
own unique challenges as
well as areas in which they
excel. This is why it’s not a
one size fi ts all solution. That
said, there are some common
challenges that we fi nd exist in
most operations,” he notes.
When asked if Cargocast
should be considered an
There is an
urgent need
to signifi cantly
reduce non valueadded
costs
Mike Morey, VP Cargo Solutions
www.airlogisticsinternational.com April 2020 17
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