Etihad Cargo has recently launched a round-the-clock Cargo Control Centre (CCC) in Abu Dhabi as the next step in its digitalization efforts.
In a statement, the cargo and logistics arm of the Abu-Dhabi based Etihad Aviation Group said the Control Centre will become the “nerve centre” for real-time monitoring, tracking and active management of all shipments, flights, and UAE road feeder services in an effort to enhance Etihad Cargo’s “delivery as planned” measure.
The centre’s core technology platform will build on Etihad Cargo’s existing booking and reservation system, but with the introducing of a key “always-on” tracking functionalities — including shipment planning and performance monitoring across its five dedicated freighter aircraft as well as belly hold shipments across more than 250 daily passenger flights.
“The Cargo Control Centre shifts our modus-operandi from a historically reactive model to a truly proactive service delivery machine that strives to maintain the service delivery promise and support customers’ needs every step of their shipment journey,” said Andre Blech, head of operations and delivery at Etihad Cargo.
24/7 monitoring
The Control Centre will feature several large-screen displays equipped with advanced software algorithms and processes which alert them of issues that may impact customer shipments, and provides them with unique tools to resolve any such “irregularities” or service recovery matters, ultimately allowing Etihad Cargo to increase its Cargo IQ metrics, an IATA initiative to set an industry measure through which any airline is measured by its percentage of shipments that are delivered as planned.
Through the new centre, Etihad’s cargo flows, departures and arrivals across the network can be monitored 24 hours a day, with a heavy focus on special products that are most sensitive to schedule variations and disruptions.
Automated alerts
In addition to its air shipments, Etihad Cargo will also now be able to monitor in real-time all of its road feeder services across the UAE, and the new centre is enabled with the requisite technology to expand this real-time road feeder service oversight to more than 100 lanes in Europe and the Americas over the coming months.
"In a second phase, Etihad Cargo plans to add further functionality to the CCC to allow monitoring of its Quick Ramp Transfer shipments at its Abu Dhabi International Airport HUB, providing instant alerts on potentially problematic connections and allowing the customer service team to pro-actively take immediate corrective action," Etihad Cargo added.
An Advanced Cargo Information (ACI) monitoring, which will send automated alerts on custom conflicts to minimize the time spent checking individual shipment documentation, will be configured on 10 of Etihad Cargo’s busiest routes by the end of the year which will support timely clearance of shipments at destination.
