PARIS (October 27, 2016) – Schiphol Cargo announced today that it will back further projects as part of its Smart Cargo Mainport Program, aimed at finding innovative schemes to improve cargo flow through the Amsterdam hub. The Smart Program projects centre on cargo flows, encouraging cooperation between the different parties in the supply chain, and is underpinned by transparent data sharing.

The program brings together Schiphol Cargo as chair, with KLM Cargo, Dutch Customs, and Cargonaut, and has already attracted €375,000 (US$409,000) of Dutch government funding.

A pilot scheme is currently underway with Royal FloraHolland becoming one of the first to successfully implement Smart Mainport elements in its operations.

Last month, KLM Cargo also embarked on a pilot scheme aimed at speeding up and enhancing the efficiency of European supply chains bringing cargo to Schiphol for subsequent international shipment.

The pilot, which kicked off on the route from Frankfurt to Amsterdam, is operated by a consortium which brings together Schiphol Cargo, Jan de Rijk Logistics, Swissport, Kuehne + Nagel, importer Fresco Flowers, Cargonaut and Dutch Customs.

Under the scheme, a distinction has been drawn between shipments with shorter connecting times and those with less time pressure, and a new schedule is being trialled.

The schedule marks the first step towards setting up a cloud platform facilitating data exchange amongst the cooperating parties.

"We constantly have to deliver value in the hyper-competitive air freight market,” said Marcel de Nooijer, EVP of KLM Cargo and MD of Martinair Holland. “In the ideal supply chain it is all about co-operation and optimization of the movement of shipments, both in the air as well as on the ground. Therefore transparency and access to data through digitization is key!”

“The Smart Cargo Mainport Program is about facilitating the design and delivery of data driven predictable and compliant air cargo processes. It is not about the Cloud, it is about what we do with it,” said Nanne Onland, executive director of Cargonaut.

Speaking exclusively to Asia Cargo News, Jonas van Stekelenburg, head of cargo at Schiphol, said cooperation was in their DNA in the Netherlands. “We have taken a community approach to this initiative, and people are favourable to cooperating. People will share information with us because they view us as a trusted partner,” he said. “This doesn’t stop with the pilot route from Frankfurt to Amsterdam, and you will hopefully see more new projects in the coming months.”

By Darren Barton

Asia Cargo News | Paris