Cargo IT solutions provider CHAMP Cargosystems Philippines, Inc. is offering cloud-based software designed to help small and medium-sized airfreight forwarders level up their operations.
Logitude is intended for small and medium-sized freight forwarders because the big airlines and integrators already have one-to-one connectivity, said Oliver Neerfeld, CHAMP Cargosystems head of commercial operations for Asia Pacific, in an interview with PortCalls on the sidelines of CHAMP’s Creating e-Awareness in the Philippines forum.
He said Logitude is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution that provides full multimodal shipment management functionality and electronic connectivity to enable freight forwarders to play on a level playing field with airlines and integrators.
The cloud-based system can manage all aspects of air cargo shipment processes by acting as a central link between a freight forwarder and airlines.
These functions can range from flight schedule and availability of inquiry right down to master air waybill (MAWB) and house air waybill (HAWB) capture and transmission, as well as subsequent shipment tracking and tracing. Printing of MAWB and HAWB can also be done.
Neerfeld noted that the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) feature of Logitude complies with the International Air Transportation Association initiative to make all air cargo transactions paperless.
Logitude also allows access to data from more than 1,000 airlines on shipment status and e-AWB as well as enables e-consolidation list transmission. In the Philippines, flag carrier Philippine Airlines is a user of CHAMP’s system.
Aside from airfreight, Logitude can also be used in sea freight and land operations, as well as import, export, and domestic shipments.
The system does not require a dedicated hardware and can be accessed from any device with Internet connection.
Until recently, full freight forwarding solutions were complex and required upfront capital investment, IT and on-site support, as well as major implementation and adaptation efforts.
Since Logitude is electronic, it cuts costs in printing and reduces all the steps undergone by paper AWBs, such as printing, transportation, copying, tracking, filing, and retrieving, as well as handling fees to airlines.
Logitude’s other features include status update messages, shipping instruction and voyage details; pre-alert; data validation; data sharing with logistics partners; print on-demand labels for AWB and HAWB; interface with other systems (barcode printer, accounting, etc.); billing and accounting tools; and business tools.
Logitude’s economy-class version is only US$55 per user per month, while its business-class version costs $70 per user per month. The e-AWB-only version is just $20 per user per month with $1 in fee per AWB.
Other offerings
Another CHAMP software is CargoUpdate, an integrated cargo community portal that connects airlines and general sales agents with their core customers, such as freight forwarders.
CHAMP’s business development manager Bart Jan Haasbeek, in a presentation during the forum, said CargoUpdate provides announcements and communications, information on new routes, latest surcharge updates, and details on any operational issues from air cargo stakeholders.
Customers can customize the types of announcements and news they get and the location they come from.
CHAMP Cargosystems is a Luxembourg-based company that provides value-added services to over 200 airlines and GSAs worldwide, and links these clients to more than 3,000 forwarders with over 9,000 offices. Aside from Manila, CHAMP has offices in London, Zurich, Atlanta, and Frankfurt.– Text and photo by Roumina Pablo
