CARGOCONNECT JULY2024 - Flipbook - Page 47
W
hat strategies does your
company employ to support
the integrated air transport
ecosystem, and how do your
services synergise with your business
models and bene昀椀t your airline partners?
We take immense pride in our journey, which
is well re昀氀ected in the Freightos logo. When
we launched WebCargo in 2008, our goal
was clear: to empower freight forwarders
with better rate and quotation management,
recognising that freight is the backbone of
global trade. Shippers, both importers and
exporters, require swift insight into their
total cost of ownership. However, just 16
years ago, it took them nearly a week to
hear back from a freight forwarder. Our
vision, now a reality, is to ensure that any
shipper can receive instant, transparent,
and accurate communication from a freight
forwarder, who in turn can seamlessly connect with airlines. Our focus over the past
16 years has been on fostering transparency
and empowering all stakeholders in the
logistics community to transact swiftly.
Simply put, we facilitate faster buying and
selling processes for everyone involved.
That’s our core mission.
WebCargo has become the platform of
choice for over 40 airlines when it comes to
e-booking and payment. The reason behind
this widespread adoption lies in our early
start—16 years ago—and the fact that all
major freight forwarders are already utilising
our services. For them, transitioning to
e-booking on WebCargo is a logical step,
given their existing use of our platform
for rate and quotation management. Our
value proposition to airlines is clear: we
The enthusiasm and readiness
within the industry are palpable,
with customers, shippers,
importers, exporters, and
manufacturers all eagerly
embracing digital solutions. This
collective readiness underscores
the importance of airlines joining
this transformative journey. With
such widespread readiness and
anticipation, there’s a clear call to
action for India-based airlines to
step forward and participate.
provide a best-in-class user experience to
freight forwarders and, by extension, their
customers. This translates into enhanced
efficiency and smoother operations for
airlines. After all, time is money, and our
platform enables users to save valuable time,
ultimately leading to increased pro昀椀tability.
However, it’s not just about having access
to tools and information; it’s also about
implementing a robust analytic strategy
that accurately describes, predicts, and
prescribes actions for continued success.
How does WebCargo utilise analytics
to ensure timely responses and provide
proactive suggestions to platform users?
At WebCargo, our unique approach to
e-booking sets us apart in the industry. Unlike
traditional methods that rely on outdated EDI
systems, we utilise real-time connectivity
with airline systems through APIs. This
means that when a customer initiates a
search on our platform, we immediately
communicate with the airline system to
retrieve availability and rates. There’s no
delay or ambiguity; if a particular offering isn’t visible, it indicates that there’s no
capacity with that carrier for the speci昀椀ed
date. This real-time connection ensures
that the data presented on our platform is
always accurate and up-to-date, eliminating the need for manual data collection
and manipulation. As airlines expand their
distribution channels, the importance of
operating in a multi-distribution-centered
environment becomes increasingly evident.
Our approach aligns perfectly with this
trend, providing users with instant access
to the most relevant and reliable information
directly from airline systems.
How does WebCargo support its users in
managing capacity e昀昀ectively, ensuring
they obtain the necessary capacity
promptly and securely while focussing on
both data and physical security aspects?
At WebCargo, our approach is to seamlessly
integrate with airlines’ existing systems,
such as IBS, Champ, and SmartCargo, to
name a few, without interfering with airlines’
operational infrastructure. We serve as an
interconnected layer that interacts with
airlines’ pricing, capacity, and revenue
modules, leveraging their systems to enhance
booking capabilities. Our value proposition
extends beyond facilitating bookings; airlines
gain access to platform-wide benchmarking
data, o昀昀ering valuable insights into market
performance. For instance, airlines can
analyse metrics like look-to-book ratio and
purchasing behavior on speci昀椀c routes, such
as Delhi to Frankfurt. This holistic view,
derived from our extensive user base and
data repository, enables airlines to make
informed decisions and optimise their operations e昀昀ectively. While individual platforms
provide limited insights based on their data
alone, partnering with WebCargo grants
access to comprehensive, platform-wide
benchmarking data, empowering airlines
with actionable intelligence for strategic
planning and performance enhancement.
What factors do you believe contribute
to customers choosing your platform?
Is it primarily due to credibility of info
and stats in昀氀uencing transit times and
visibility, or perhaps other reasons
altogether?
Reaching over 1 million transactions is
indeed a signi昀椀cant milestone for WebCargo,
re昀氀ecting the industry’s transition towards
digitalisation. While we’re proud of this
achievement, it’s more than just a testaCARGOCONNECT JULY 2024 | 47
