Frankfurt’s Air Cargo Community has simplified the registration of truck drivers at the airport and made order pharmaceutical shipments faster, both through the digitalization and optimization of processes.
According to Air Cargo Community Frankfurt, the new solution for truckers aims to reduce coordination efforts between hauliers, forwarders and handlers by decreasing the duration of each stop at Frankfurt Airport’s CargoCity.
“This will help to improve cooperation between all companies along the supply chain within CargoCity,” said Patrik Tschirch [left], executive at Air Cargo Community Frankfurt. “Being the largest European cargo airport, we aim to optimize our efficiency with the new digital registration process.”
Professor Kai-Oliver Schocke the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, who has been conducting a scientific study of the freight area at Frankfurt Airport with 70 students since 2013, said that the upgrade is expected to save 10 minutes per truck.
“With more than 1,000 trucks that arrive on a daily basis at the airport, this means significant time saving and reduction of costs for both, forwarding agents and carriers on one hand, and handling agents and airlines on the other,” he said.
The next step will be the implementation of a digital form by using a cargo community system, according to Air Cargo Community Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Airport has also invested in the optimization of the ordering process for pharmaceutical shipments. According to the community, a combined IT solution for automated and electronic process support will enable the complete exchange of information between all members of the supply chain.
“With this new concept, we are able to decrease the complexity of ordering processes and increase reliability and speed at the same time by steering the flow of information of all participants digitally,” said Anke Giesen [third from left], executive at Fraport AG and vice chairwoman of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt.
According to the community, Fraport’s ground-handling services BVD, as well as the handling companies Swissport, Celebi, LUG and FCS are all undergoing the audit process for the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics certification from the International Air Transport Association.
“The approval of an independent authority will emphasize our competence as Europe’s leading gateway for pharmaceutical products,” said Joachim von Winning [centre], executive director of Air Cargo Community Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Airport handles more than 100,000 tonnes of medicinal products, vaccines and other pharmaceutical products every year, according to ACCF.
