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SWISSPORT’S AIR CARGO HANDLING KEY FACTS as of 1 January 2022

01 General and special cargo handling 01 Founded in 1996 serving three airports in Switzerland

02 Temperature controlled handling (e.g. pharma) 02 Present at 285 airports across 6 continents
03 Hub handling 03 Manages 119 cargo warehouses

04 Express services 04 Handled 5.1 million cargo tonnes (4.6 million tonnes in 2019)

05 Forwarder handling 05 Cargo business accounts for 20% of its total annual revenue

cargo handling to be faster and more ef- We want to be the way for further process improvements and
ficient. It is equipping its cargo workers with data-driven decision making. The software
an advanced handheld device that features Amazon of recruitment; also identifies damaged goods earlier in
an easy-to-use modern application. The the process which in turn will help reduce
cargo app will enable Swissport workers to the Apple of engagement potential claims.
monitor and steer the warehousing process and the Microsoft of the In July this year, Swissport launched the
with real-time visibility, in a user-friendly and test of automated guided vehicle (AGV) at
highly efficient way and offers advanced industry in handling, its 17,000 sqm air cargo centre in Frankfurt
data-insights into air cargo flows. Cargo will and in cargo Airport. In a long-term test, the autonomous
be traceable through timestamps with exact vehicle has been substituting the manual
locations, further improving the security transport of cargo. It forms part of Swis-
of the supply chain. The app also features its artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions sport's continuous pursuit of innovative and
built-in safety mechanisms, which create an like Cargo Eye and Cargo Mind. These efficient cargo processes. An automated ma-
additional barrier to make sure incompat- solutions will support Swissport's digitiza- terial handling system ensures efficient cargo
ible shipments, such as specific dangerous tion drive, help improve overall logistics processing and storage while the FAIR@
goods, remain separated at all times. efficiency and increase cargo capacity in Link slot booking app controls the access of
The mobile cargo application has already warehouses and on flights. trucks and optimizes workflows.
been rolled out at Swissport’s cargo opera- Using Microsoft's 3D technology, Cargo The AGV communicates with gates and
tions in Helsinki, Basel, Hamburg, Manches- Eye digitizes incoming goods by scanning other automated equipment, can cover
ter and Frankfurt. Next, the app will be them and calculating exact dimensions in large distances and is fully compatible with
introduced at locations across Africa, the real time, while seamlessly integrating the Swissport’s state-of-the-art material handling
US, the UK, and in Ireland, Spain, Belgium data into existing warehouse management system, which was also designed together
and the Netherlands. The implementation is systems. The information is then fed into with Loedige Industries.
set to reach 76 facilities in Swissport’s cargo Cargo Mind, where the AI solution optimizes So what’s Brady’s vision for Swissport? He
network by the end of 2022. process efficiency and loading capacity wants to build a company that is admired by
Swissport also has become one of the in loading plans. The digitally supported others in other sectors as well. “We want to be
very first companies to sign a proof-of- warehouse logistics also promote compli- not just the largest but the best in what we do
concept agreement with Speedcargo, for ance, visibility and traceability, paving the – ground services and cargo handling.”

www.stattimes.com | AUGUST 2022 27