While there is certainly increased digitalisation in the airfreight industry, currently, the level of adoption falls short of expectations, with the recurring reason for delays in developing innovative ideas due to budgetary constraints.
With this in mind, Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) has cultivated an ecosystem of products designed to enhance customer efficiency and cost-effectiveness, presenting commercially appealing proposals for swift digitalisation.
“By making it simple for them, we are helping the customers to digitalise more and embrace the technical side,” Yuval Baruch, Chief Executive Officer of HLT, said. “We’ve invested a lot of money in how we deploy our solutions, so nowadays, they are deployed automatically and scaled according to the customer.
“They are managed in the cloud in an efficient way, so that helps on the one side,” Baruch continued. “The other thing is making sure that they are able to implement the solutions that we offer them easily, helping to train and onboard quickly by creating development plans for our users.”
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Pace around the globe
When considering the speed of innovation, Singapore stands out as a prime example as an early adopter of digital tools. Similarly, customers in Australia have been effectively utilising solutions and displaying a swift uptake of new tools.
In terms of established processes, Europe has long been a global leader, particularly in shaping the early practices of the air cargo industry, with HLT citing how Lufthansa played a significant role in driving standards worldwide through strategic partnerships. Even today, operations in the region continue to showcase robust development and advancement.
“The two regions have typically been a bit earlier than others when it comes to adopting technology,” Baruch continued. “These are full of good users of our solutions, benefitting from the current tools out there.”
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Tech goes green
HLT is clear that sustainability and digitalisation are intertwined. Efficiencies that are key to securing a sustainable future can only be realised through a shift to a paperless and secure digital environment.
Take, for instance, the integration with road feeder services. Consider the significant fuel loss when trucks are idling outside in harsh winter conditions, waiting to be loaded. Advance booking of slots ensures a seamless process, reducing fuel waste from engines running in a queue of trucks.
Furthermore, a well-managed warehouse, facilitated by digital processes, can optimise forklift routes, save time, and consequently require fewer personnel. This reduction leads to fewer individuals commuting, aligning with sustainable practices. Going digital also translates to a reduction in paper usage, exemplifying the multitude of eco-friendly measures achievable through digitalisation.
“There are so many things that you can do with digitalisation. I don’t think it’s measurable yet. I think it is going there. But I will say very, very clearly, there’s no sustainability without digitalisation,” Baruch outlined.
