Swissport warehouses powered with Bluetooth sensors for global ULD tracking

Feb 27, 2020: Swissport will work with Unilode and Descartes to track and monitor Unit Load Devices (ULD) using Bluetooth technology at its cargo warehouses. The cargo handling division will equip its 115 cargo warehouses with tracking sensors during 2020.

During 2020, Swissport will rig its cargo warehouses with Bluetooth readers supplied by Unilode and Descartes. The technology will increase transparency for Swissport customers using digitally tagged ULD. Geolocation of ULD enables real-time tracking and inventory control, enabling airlines and freight companies to plan the distribution of their vast ULD fleets more efficiently and cost effectively.

“Our cooperation with Unilode and Descartes and the introduction of global ULD tracking at our cargo warehouses create added value for our customers and drive the digital transformation of the cargo supply chain and the industry,” says Hendrik Leyssens, Swissport’s Vice President Global Operations - Cargo.

Swissport, the global leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, is continuously investing in new technologies and automation at its warehouses. Another such example is self-service cargo kiosks which enable truck-drivers to skip counter queues and manual paperwork processing. The kiosks help saving valuable time and often speed up the delivery of time-critical shipments, benefiting Swissport and its customers alike.

In 2019, some 4.6 million tonnes of air cargo passed through Swissport’s warehouses world-wide. Currently, nine facilities are CEIV Pharma-certified by IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators. Swissport keeps adding facilities where it sees opportunities for profitable growth. Major cargo expansion projects are currently underway in Frankfurt, Germany, and Melbourne, Australia, both due to open in the third quarter of 2020. Further locations in Australia will be announced soon.