The air cargo IT company allivate is digitalizing the pick-up process for import shipments at Frankfurt Airport.

The company announced that import shipment processes will now operate paper-free through the Cargo Community System FAIR@link, under the name Smart Pick-up, ensuring smoother and more efficient handling.

The "Digital Authorization for Pick-up," which replaces the former collection order, plays a central role in this. The pilot operation of Smart Pick-up has been launched since the beginning of May.

Digital authorization instead of paper documents

allivate said over a period of two months, the freight forwarders Küehne & Nagel and DB Schenker, the handling agent LUG and the freight forwarding service provider CHI Cargo will be testing the synergies of the new digital processes.

Instead of the physical collection order, the pilot partners will use the FAIRLink platform to transfer the Digital Authorization for Pick-up as verification for the release of the shipment.

“The new Digital Authorization for Pick-up enables efficient handover of shipments and represents a huge leap forward in the digitalization of logistics processes at Frankfurt Airport. At the same time, it also improves the traceability of pick-up processes, which leads to greater transparency and security throughout the entire supply chain," Martina Schikorr, managing director at allivate, said.

The announcement said Smart Pick-up triggers processes on the ground while the shipments are still in the air. Authorization for pick-up can take place up to two hours before touchdown.

As a result, once the freight arrives at Frankfurt Airport, it can be seamlessly forwarded along the transport chain.

"With our platform, it is easy to see at a glance when the cargo is ready for pick-up and authorized for pick-up, what the customs status is and, if applicable, the dangerous goods status. Truck slot booking is also integrated. This enables the earliest possible scheduling and avoids wasted trips."

Paperless handover of shipments

The check-in process at the handling agent has also been simplified. allivate noted that instead of manually checking pick-up authorizations and readiness in multiple systems, all information will be provided digitally and proactively via a single channel.

From an operational perspective, pilot participant Nouri Boulahrouz, head of JETCargo Handling at DB Schenker, said Smart Pick-up allows digitally authorized persons or companies to pick up their shipments without having to rely on physical documents. "This minimizes the risk of errors, forgeries or misuse and ensures the highest degree of security," he added.

The new Smart Pick-up module is set to expand into regular operations in the second half of 2025 and will be available for use throughout the entire Frankfurt Airport.