Independent forwarder members of the WCA will be able to access the Worldwide Information Network’s e-air waybill platform for free for the rest of 2016.

According to WIN, WCA members will now be able to submit e-AWBs for free, make e-bookings and receive tracking alerts.

“We are at a tipping point with the level of e-AWB adoption in the industry approaching the halfway mark, so we are very pleased to be able to offer the WCA this opportunity to leap forward,” said John DeBenedette, managing director of WIN. “Independents can act now to gain the same level of efficiencies already enjoyed by multinational forwarders and tap into the growing trend of airport fast lanes for cargo tendered with electronic data in advance.”

Members can access the platform via a link on the WCA website.

“WCA takes pride in our long history as an innovative business development platform helping independent forwarders compete on a level playing field with their larger rivals,” said Dan March, chief executive officer of WCA. “For our members, going electronic is not just about eliminating paper or helping airlines increase their efficiency which is all well and good, but equally important it’s about benefitting from the real-time shipment visibility, system integration and member-collaboration features that we’ve also built into WIN.”

The announcement was made at the WCA Annual Conference, held this year in Abu Dhabi.