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Month: February 2021

Pharmaceutical Distributor OCP Completes Modernization Project

Posted on by David Priestman

OCP Répartition is the leading pharmaceutical distributor in France dispatching over 2 million boxes of medicines and personal care products every day in over 44 establishments.

A long-time client of Fives for several decades, OCP Répartition previously called on the technical expertise of the Fives Upgrade teams in early 2019, as part of a project to retrofit a platform based in Montpellier.

OCP Répartition was completely satisfied with the operational performance of the machines deployed in this installation spurring it to renew its collaboration with the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams to modernize its site in Marseille.

The work to upgrade the previous system – installed by a competitor in the 90s using technology the Fives teams were relatively unfamiliar with – involved replacing an empty tray accumulation conveyor and adding two next generation tray denesters, an empty tray return system and a wet tray detection system. The denester’s twin head allows it to process up to 1,800 trays per hour simultaneously.

These machines were developed especially for this project by the Fives Smart Automation Solutions teams.

Fives’ solution was developed to meet significant coactivity constraints in order to integrate all the new equipment for OCP Répartition. Spread over 6 weeks, the Fives teams performed their work in several phases to ensure OCP Répartition’s activities did not stop. The project was finalized in August 2020.

“In the context of a pandemic, during which it is vital for our activities to continue, we need to be able to rely on a partner with specific expertise in retrofit projects to efficiently address the various challenges of our business. This is why we chose the Fives Upgrade teams, which through our previous collaborations, have demonstrated great responsiveness, delivering services in line with our expectations”, said René Blanc, Head of Maintenance at the OCP Répartition site.

This new achievement demonstrates the extent of Fives’ expertise in both new projects and upgrade projects, relying on a Client Service team capable of handling extremely complex upgrade projects requiring significant agility.

Ford Trucks Announces new Products and Technologies

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Building on more than half-century of experience and dynamic product development in the field of heavy trucks, Ford Trucks is kicking off 2021 with two new product variants, plus updated services and technologies throughout its current product range, launched in 44 countries.

The F-MAX family, which now includes two new variants, F-MAX Blackline and F-MAX L, including new specifications and features, is bringing connected mobility technologies to Ford Trucks customers. The company is introducing remote-control features with its ConnecTruck technology, offering more convenience and greater efficiency.

‘As an innovative brand that listens to our customers’ needs, we focus our R&D efforts on bringing next-generation technologies to the market. We believe we can add the most value for our customers by lowering their total cost of ownership. With each new product we develop, our goal is to help our customers manage their business more profitably’, says Serhan Turfan, Vice President at Ford Trucks. ‘We are proud to introduce a new range of products and technologies to our customers all over the world. We will continue to deliver more efficiency, even better performance and cutting-edge technologies for our customers.’

F-MAX Blackline (pictured) will be produced in a limited edition of only 250 units with special serial numbers

The F-MAX Blackline, an exclusive variant of the international award-winning F-MAX, will be produced as a limited edition. Each vehicle will feature a special serial number and the Blackline Series emblem on its door. Only 250 units will be produced for this limited edition, which will be available in a special ‘moondust’ silver exterior colour, with blue and black stripes that accentuate the vehicle’s style, as well as black LED headlamps, black wheels, and black mirror caps. The F-MAX Blackline features a high-end interior design, with seats trimmed in black with blue stripes and stitch details, in addition to blue highlights and stitch details on the leather steering wheel and spacious overhead storage areas. The F-MAX Blackline’s front console as well as bed and under-bed storage areas also feature distinctive black design details.

ConnecTruck offers new features that make life easier for drivers and fleet managers

Ford Trucks is transforming its vehicles into data-driven, connected mobility products, equipped with next-generation technologies that benefit customers. The new technologies include features such as GPS-based cruise control and multimedia system that make life easier for drivers and fleet managers. The new remote-control features also enable users of the My Ford Trucks app to control their vehicles remotely, giving drivers an even higher level of comfort.

Meanwhile, the online portal ConnecTruckGlobal.com has been expanded to include new features, especially for fleets. Now, it allows fleet managers to track their vehicles on a desktop computer or tablet, with bonus features in addition to the mobile app. The new features give drivers and fleet managers access to historical vehicle data and route information, all within a few clicks.

New F-MAX L, featuring a longer wheelbase and up to 5,000 km range on a single tank

Ford Trucks aims to exceed its customers’ expectations with the new F-MAX L, featuring a longer wheelbase and a range of up to 5,000 kilometres on a single tank. The F-MAX L’s 1350-litre fuel tank is 300 litres larger than the standard F-MAX tank, offering significant transportation advantages in combination with the truck’s expanded 3750 mm wheelbase. Customers can also choose a 1050-litre tank option by simply selecting a longer wheelbase.

”Eco+ Mode” is now standard in all F-MAX variants, reducing fuel consumption by up to 5%

As fuel consumption and total cost of ownership are the most important criteria in the heavy commercial vehicle sector, Ford Trucks introduced “Eco+ Mode”, allowing drivers to increase fuel efficiency by up to 5%. Starting in 2021, Eco+ Mode will be a standard feature in all F-MAX variants.

When Eco+ Mode is activated, the system takes actions to automatically reduce fuel consumption. The Max Cruise feature sets the most efficient vehicle speed based on road conditions and topography identified using GPS data. Eco Roll is also activated, allowing for optimal acceleration when driving downhill, so that the truck covers the maximum distance with minimum fuel consumption. When Eco+ Mode is switched on, engine power is limited to 450 PS and vehicle speed to 85 kilometres per hour. If the vehicle idles for longer than five minutes, the engine automatically shuts off to save fuel. This is especially beneficial if the vehicle is left running while waiting at customs or loading. Finally, the high-performance kickdown feature is deactivated in Eco+ Mode to conserve fuel. Fleet owners can control and monitor all these features remotely using the My Ford Trucks mobile app.
Road Trucks series are now even more comfortable with ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission

The ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission, developed by Ford Trucks engineers, caters to customer expectations and preferences, offering significant driving comfort, especially during heavy-traffic urban driving. It also reduces fuel consumption and total cost of ownership. The F-MAX with ZF EcoTronic 9-speed automated transmission offers better driving comfort in 330PS light tipper and light road trucks. And, by eliminating gear shifting, it helps utility vehicles such as fire trucks to perform even faster during situations where every second counts.

Rear Steerable Axle, improved manoeuvrability and turning radius

The engineers at Ford Trucks understand the importance of manoeuvrability and a small turning radius during urban use and they developed a new rear steerable axle to increase manoeuvrability in 9LT 6X2 vehicles. The new system increases the turning radius by 9%, offering a more comfortable driving experience, especially in confined urban settings.

New Year, New Customs Provider?

Posted on by David Priestman

3PL specialists Gefco explain why it could be vital to review your customs partners for 2021. 2020 was a year like no other for many manufacturers and their supply chains. It posed challenges that will continue to test even the most resilient of manufacturing businesses as we steadily move towards a global recovery. Of course, all this also comes at a time when we’re witnessing some of the biggest shifts in international trade for over two decades.

Making the transition from free and open trade between the EU and UK to the current regulations has been especially difficult in this climate and indeed, many have struggled to cope or adequately prepare in time. Now that we’re into the New Year and beyond the initial adjustment period it is vital that your business is working with an overland logistics partner that is going to deliver for your business.

At Gefco, we’re helping numerous businesses navigate this tricky period. With 17 Authorised Economic Operator certifications to our name, customs operations in 118 countries and over 50 years of experience in the trade and customs sector, our specialists facilitate the customs services that manufacturers need to ensure operations run smoothly.

Even during simpler times, efficient and cost-effective logistics planning can be a challenge. The new wave of rules and regulations which have come into force now that the UK-EU border is reinstated will aggravate that challenge, creating original and complex demands on UK manufacturers, who will often need to re-engineer their processes and reallocate their already overstretched
time, teams and budgets.

The process of ensuring products are customs-compliant can often be complicated by fragmented information, confused communications and poor visibility. When it comes to ensuring better control of crossborder operations, Gefco focuses on three pillars, which it calls the three Cs: Consolidation, Connectivity and Collaboration. The ideal 2021 logistics partner will help you achieve these through a full audit of processes and flows, and through the use of technology to connect remote operations, enable your teams to store and access all important documentation in one place, and give you complete visibility of your cross-border operations.

In manufacturing businesses, adaptability is crucial; whether it’s responding to changing circumstances or customer demands, the ability to adapt has a direct impact on profitability and business success. To ensure this, manufacturers need experts who are approachable, responsive and well-equipped. The ideal customer partner will have every post-Brexit eventuality covered. In Gefco’s case, we can lean on an integrated network of national and international hubs, and services that cover the full range of over-land freight options, including full load (FTL), less than load (LTL) and groupage.

Similarly vital to the success of manufacturers in 2021 will be the steady and reliable flow of raw materials into the UK. Assessing how Brexit might have affected the flow of the materials businesses need to manufacture their goods is a business imperative. Amongst the options to consider, are the utilisation of new Smart Borders in France – an IT solution based on anticipated customs formalities which can help deliver compliance, as well as time and cost efficiencies. Gefco’s experts can help manufacturers navigate this new frontier to help ensure manufacturers are maintaining that all-important steady flow of raw materials.

It’s difficult to overstate the value of having an expert logistics partner to lean on during challenging times. And with trade negotiations having gone right down to the wire and creating so much uncertainty and confusion, it’s more important than ever that manufacturers have a dependable and capable supply chain partner: one that will help facilitate getting goods to where they need to be, safely and securely, regardless of the new levels of complexity that Brexit has brought.

Logistics Tech Business sees Record-breaking Year

Posted on by Keith McKinley

fulfilmentcrowd, a logistics provider to Bear Grylls’ ecommerce shop, is forecasting revenues of £12m this financial year, driven by the explosion of online retail over the last 12 months. This represents a 58 per cent rise on the £7.6m achieved in 2019 – marking the best year to date for the Chorley-based business.

Founded in 1984, fulfilmentcrowd provides tailored order fulfilment services and technology to more than 400 UK and international online retailers. With 102 staff across 11 UK and global centres, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US, the firm manages more than 120,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, processing more than 50,000 items per week.

Over the last 12 months, the firm has opened three new sites in Marton Fold, UK, Bocholt, Germany and Sandston, Virginia, USA, strengthening its international network and increasing its worldwide delivery capabilities. This includes the launch of a chilled logistics centre in Marton Fold, making cold chain fulfilment a viable and cost-effective option for UK-based ecommerce start-ups and SMEs in the food, drink, health and beauty sectors – all industries where the shelf life and quality of perishable products is greatly enhanced when stored in a temperature-controlled environment.

The firm’s operations are underpinned by the latest technology, with fulfilmentcrowd investing £1.5m a year into the research and development of its proprietary cloud-based software platform. Powered by artificial intelligence, the platform provides clients with instant marketplace integration, automated order processing and live order tracking.

Over the next 12 months, fulfilmentcrowd plans to expand its international network further by breaking into new ecommerce territories, with sites in the Middle East and Australasia already in negotiation. Due to the impact of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the subsequent restrictions on certain goods being exported from the UK into the EU, the organisation also expects a sharp increase in the number of new and existing UK based clients outsourcing storage and fulfilment via its European centres in Germany and the Netherlands.

Vanessa Ashworth, Chief Marketing Officer at fulfilmentcrowd said: “We have seen extraordinary levels of demand for our solution over the last 12 months, as businesses look to adapt their core models towards eCommerce offerings. Our technology platform has been crucial in enabling us to satisfy this demand, with continual investment made in research and development to ensure we provide the highest level of fulfilment to our customers.

“As businesses continue to digitise operations, we expect this growth to accelerate over the coming months, especially with our growing international network of warehouses and the launch of specialist services like chilled fulfilment.”

fulfilmentcrowd has also demonstrated its commitment to sustainability. In 2019, the firm launched the ‘Lorax Project’, a multi-faceted initiative to become the UK’s first fully sustainable fulfilment provider by 2022. It offers clients environmentally responsible shipping, biodegradable packaging and a zero-waste policy, saving 12 tonnes of plastic waste per year and 176 tonnes in CO2 emissions.

Increase Efficiency of Storage and Production Processes

Posted on by David Priestman

FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG is one of the leading manufacturers of waste collection vehicles and sweepers in Europe. The medium-sized company operates eleven plants in which around 2,000 employees produce a wide variety of special vehicles. At the company headquarters in Osterholz-Scharmbeck, production takes place on a total of 15 assembly lines, which are supplied with components from an indoor warehouse and an outdoor warehouse. In order to optimise the logistical processes between production and warehouse, FAUN decided to introduce a professional warehouse management system with EPG | LFS. LFS has been in use since October 2020 and already ensured an increase in picking performance at the Kardex towers after a very short time.

From huge steel sheets to tanks and pumps to the smallest screws – FAUN Umwelttechnik requires a wide range of individual parts for the production of waste collection containers. They are kept at the Osterholz-Scharmbeck site on a total of 6,500 square metres of storage space so that the assembly lines can access them at the right moment. In 2019, the company decided to introduce a professional warehouse management system to better organise the items. The new solution should above all bring more transparency with regard to the inventory and warehouse processes – as a basis for subsequently being able to optimise them.

Online research and online training

The company researched suitable warehouse management systems with the help of an online tool from the Fraunhofer Institute. During the subsequent discussions with system providers, it quickly became apparent that EPG, with more than 30 years of experience, best met the client’s desire for a professionally positioned provider. FAUN particularly appreciates the modular design of the LFS warehouse management system, which promises plenty of scope for future expansions. Another decisive factor was the innovative training offered by EPG | ACADEMY, which teaches users how to use the system correctly. “We were very pleased with the fast and professional organisation of the online training in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic,” says Ronny Lößner, who was responsible for the implementation at FAUN Umwelttechnik. “So despite the circumstances there was no delay in our project and we were able to start with LFS as planned.”

Simon Reininghaus, project manager at EPG, praises the constructive cooperation during the implementation: “The project team has excellent process knowledge and was thus able to integrate the processes into the LFS quickly during customising. “ As a result, FAUN was able to record positive effects on employee performance just two weeks after the system was introduced: The picking performance was already higher than before the introduction.

More efficiency through new picking strategy

A large part of the increased efficiency was due to the conversion of order picking to multi-order picking. This allows FAUN employees to process several individual orders in parallel. This saves distances and significantly increases the picking performance. “Picking at the four towers used to be our bottleneck,” explains Katharina Beck, Head of Logistics at FAUN. “The employees could only process orders one after the other and had to go from tower to tower. With LFS, it is now possible to combine several individual orders that are intelligently controlled. In this way, the employees manage more orders in the same amount of time.” In order to make the best possible use of this potential, FAUN has installed two new Kardex towers in which the trays can be controlled automatically by telegram exchange and manual input at the panel is no longer necessary.

Further projects already planned

Beck assumes that performance will continue to increase as FAUN exploits all the possibilities of the warehouse management system. For example, new dashboards will soon be added to make it easier to evaluate key figures. This enables staff to identify weak points in processes and optimisation potential more quickly. In the area of inventory management, transparency has increased significantly: The storage location of individual components can now be determined precisely. In addition, short-term orders from the assembly lines are immediately visible in the system due to the real-time bookings. For the future, FAUN would like to see this transparency in other areas as well. An additional module has already been acquired to map not only the warehouse processes but also the flow of goods between the machine groups. The transport control system is to be implemented as early as next year.

Pallet and Parcel Transport Growth

Posted on by Keith McKinley

In 2020 EURODIS, the international transport network for parcels and pallets in 36 European countries, reached a record annual growth. The number of transported shipments increased by 15 percent. “The Corona pandemic dominated the year 2020 and was a huge challenge. Nevertheless we were able to benefit from the increasing e-commerce business which brought large numbers of new shipments to our network” says Jens Reibold, Managing Director of EURODIS GmbH. The company based in Weinheim, Germany is steering the European network which includes members like Bonafide (Switzerland), Ciblex (France and Belgium), Österreichische Post (Austria), PostNL (Netherlands), Redur (Spain/Portugal), SDA (Italy) or trans-o-flex (Germany).

Since introducing the possibility to send 2C shipments in 2015, the formerly pure B2B-network has increased its 2C-volumes steadily and at high growth rates. “In 2020 nearly one out of three EURODIS shipments was marked as 2C”, Reibold adds.

“Personally I am very proud that our network proved to be highly reliable in these challenging times and that, in my first complete year as Managing Director, we reached unprecedented growth numbers together. A big thank you to everyone who worked to make this possible ”, states the 42-years old Managing Director. “To react properly to the crisis we had daily conference calls with our members during the first lockdown phase in early 2020. This enabled us to manage the constantly changing situations in the different countries and at the borders and to act fast. I am happy that the negative impact of the pandemic on our operations was limited to single postal code areas and short periods.”

Reibold is confident that EURODIS will again deliver positive results and growth in 2021 although there are some uncertainties remaining caused by the Corona situation and the Brexit. “All shippers have to follow the new documentation-needs for shipments to and from the UK to ensure smooth processes at customs“, emphasises Reibold who’s general outlook for the year is positive: “As EURODIS proved to go smoothly through the pandemic so far, our customers are very content and together with continuously improving plans to further strengthen our network this will again lead to increasing volumes.”

Menzies Aviation Strengthens Cargo Team

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Menzies Aviation has announced it will further strengthen its cargo team with five new appointments.

The global aviation logistics specialist has appointed Rory Fidler in the newly created role of VP Cargo Technology and will be responsible for driving forward digital innovation across Menzies’ global cargo operations. Rory has extensive experience in designing and executing digital transformation programmes as former Head of Technology and Innovation for the Cargo Division at Etihad Airways.

Another new addition to Menzies’ cargo team is Colin Baldwin, who is assuming the position of Head of Cargo Africa. Based in Johannesburg, Colin has deep market knowledge and over 30 years’ industry experience, 20 of which he spent as SVP Cargo Africa for Swissport.

In the US, Adam Cooper joins as Air Menzies International Head of Sales from United Airlines, where he was Senior Manager of Cargo Sales Strategy. Adam brings a wealth of cargo sales expertise to the role and will lead the team responsible for developing go-to-market strategies to support growth in the US market.

Alongside these new hires, Menzies has made two internal appointments. James Wong will assume the position of VP Cargo for the Americas region, whilst Karl Aldwinckle will become Head of Cargo Operations at London Heathrow Airport, to strengthen the operations team as part of an ongoing transformation process for London Heathrow Cargo.

Robert Fordree, Executive Vice President, Cargo said: “I am delighted to welcome Rory, Colin and Adam to Menzies Aviation, who will all be huge assets to our cargo team, each bringing with them a unique skill set and significant cargo expertise. VP Cargo Technology is a brand-new position, and I have every confidence that Rory will make a success of this role. With three new recruits and two internal appointments, our cargo business is well positioned to capitalise on new opportunities as we look to the year ahead. I look forward to working closely with our refreshed team as we focus on pursuing our sustainable growth strategy.”

Menzies Aviation is expanded across Europe in the last couple of years after several contract wins in Scandinavia and the Czech Republic.

 

Looking Forward to an Innovative 2021 for Retail

Posted on by David Priestman

Edward Hutchison, Managing Director of BITO Storage Systems, applauds the UK Retail Sector for meeting 2020’s challenges and looks forward to supporting it through innovative intralogistics installations in 2021.

Retailers innovate to survive – but never more so than now, as the sector was challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020 and into 2021. As a significant supporter of the UK’s Retail Sector in terms of providing the order picking, storage and intralogistics solutions designed to make retail more efficient, BITO applauds the achievements of the retailers the have overcome these challenges and seized opportunities for future growth.

In addition to enforced closure of non-essential shops, pandemic restrictions have resulted in more people working from home and have accelerated the shift from the high street to shopping on the Internet and home delivery.  According to the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) retail sales figures for Great Britain, 2020 saw the retail sector suffer its largest annual fall since records began of 1.9%. However, the amount spent in online retail sales increased by 46.1% when compared with 2019 as a whole. This represents the largest annual increase since 2008.

Retailers have been handling a surge in online order volumes, for broader mixes of SKUs and often with shorter lead times. This places enormous pressure on intralogistics operations to improve order-picking productivity. At BITO we are seeing a particular trend towards lower cost solutions to help improve fulfilment operations and meet the need for flexibility. These might include multi-tier shelving, adapting pallet racking for picking small items, installing live storage flow shelves to improve pick face density, investing in bins and containers for efficient storage and delivery, and adopting technology that allows staff to spend their time more productively picking orders – driverless internal transport to move goods from pick zones to the packaging area is a good example.

The Retail Sector’s response to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions is inspiring and heroic. We anticipate working on numerous innovative order picking and storage solution designs in the coming year. We find that designing solutions to successfully overcome a specific operational challenge can often be transferred successfully to a broader base, thus driving a sector-wide uplift of service levels.

As the vaccination programme against Covid continues to roll out during 2021, we expect the economic bounce back to carry on. Shoppers will continue to enjoy the convenience of online retail and local stores but we also expect pent up demand will see shoppers returning to the high street as soon as allowed, where they will perhaps see new names and have new retail experiences.

Retailers will need to invest in intralogistics systems that help fulfil orders as efficiently as possible – either to retail stores or direct to consumer. They will seek systems that are efficient, reliable and have the flexibility to adapt easily to changing business circumstances and to meet peaks in demand. At BITO, we have a team of experts with a tremendous amount of experience in providing one stop shop intralogistics solutions for all kinds of retailers – whether it is for small-scale installations or large distribution centre integrations.

 

DFDS Increases Scheduled Frequencies to the UK from Cuxhaven

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Since 1 February, the Danish shipping company and member of the Cuxhaven Port Association (HWG) DFDS has expanded its scheduled freight liner traffic between Cuxhaven and Immingham by one additional departure, which means there are now six weekly vessel departures. Thanks to unaccompanied trailer transits, the route through Cuxhaven has shown itself to be robust despite the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit. Thus, handling at the Cuxport terminal for shipments to the UK can be carried out without interruption.

With the additional Wednesday departure, the route originating at the Lower Saxony deep-sea port of Cuxhaven will be served from Monday to Saturday. Two Ro/Ro vessels, Selandia Seaways and Britannia Seaways will be deployed. Next to the additional departure, the reworked schedule is now tailored to customers‘ needs. The transit times between Cuxhaven and Immingham have been reduced to 19 hours; plus, all departures now occur in the evenings. In particular, truck-trailer customers can now deliver their trailer or container units at HWG member Cuxport’s terminal in the evening and these units can be expedited on their onward journey without escort. Logistics companies thus enjoy more scheduling security and less risk of delay for their drivers and their cargo on account of any Brexit-related customs checks. Any delays at terminals, and border crossings, can also be avoided in this way.

“With the additional departure and improved departure times in the evenings, we are offering our customers an attractive and reliable alternative for their shipments to and from Great Britain,” said Marcus Braue, Cuxhaven site manager for DFDS Germany. He added: “The market is indicating a general trend away from accompanied and towards unaccompanied trailer transits. For this reason, we have adjusted the departure times to be more in line with our customers’ preferences.”

“So far, COVID-19 and the new customs rules have not impacted processing in Cuxhaven for onward journeys to Great Britain. This shows that our thorough preparation in conjunction with all stakeholders is paying off, we are not experiencing significant issues in processing exports and imports,” noted Hans-Peter Zint, chairman of the Cuxhaven Port Association and managing director of Cuxport GmbH.

Return Container Booking App Launched

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Cargo stream – the first of its kind container booking app in Europe – has officially gone live. Built by Cargo stream, an international company developing solutions to manage the whole logistics chain in one place and making empty container logistics in Europe more efficient, the app is set to become a go-to tool for cargo forwarders and carriers. It enables users to book their shipping container faster and easier across the globe.

“This functionality was highly requested by various shipping lines. More and more companies are moving their operations online, accessing important data via computer or smartphone screens, and we see this trend as an extraordinary opportunity for the logistics sector. Technology enables immediacy, ubiquity, in our case, while booking containers or managing logistics processes. Our decision to launch an app was inspired by the number of functionalities requests we received from our partnering shipping lines. We are creating value for our customers by launching the first app of its kind in Europe,” said Anthony Poullain, member of the board at Cargo stream.

Currently, available solutions in the market are limited to desktop applications, enabling only several actions, which forces companies to stick to managing most of the procedures by phone calls or emails. “We want to be at the forefront of technological implementation in an otherwise stagnant industry. It is difficult to develop a solution from the shipping line side because other shipping lines will not join the internal system. Cargo stream is an independent, reliable and objective solution provider that connects different parties in the whole logistic chain,” said Stéphane Gouvart, an associate of the CMA CGM Group.

The Cargo stream app allows users to make container bookings and offers or announce that they are searching for a specific container. It facilitates a full exchange between cargo senders, forwarders and carriers and provides a single portal to manage the entire container communication with shipping lines in real-time. Additionally, users can use the container location tool that helps find empty containers near their location. From there, users quickly book the containers and begin the cargo journey.

The app also provides value for customers in the following ways: request changes in drop-off and pick-up locations, check empty container status and whether it can be re-used for export customers, as well as manage cross-border open equipment opportunities in real-time. With these features, app users can optimise trucks’ planning, avoid congested areas and disputes with other carriers, and centralise all lines on one platform.

“Using such technology, logistics professionals can save time and money by reducing the number of empty runs. When facing a global containers’ shortage, speed and concrete communication are key to be first in line and secure the containers. We have started booking containers through Cargo stream with MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company),” said Igoris Uba, CEO of Limarko Maritime Agency.

Previously, both parties lacked the information they needed to improve their business efficiency: since forwarders had to ask hundreds of carriers if they have a container or vice versa, carriers had to inquire whether forwarders need empty containers for their shippers. The economic value here is immense, as it was never that easy to match empty containers with cargo shippers. Moreover, Cargo stream is not a marketplace, but a modern hub for re-using containers for export.

Cargo stream business model is straightforward: it comes with no license fees, subscription requirements, and upfront commitments. The app only takes a fixed rate when business transactions have performed. It is expected that Cargo stream will increase the speed of finding suitable parties for transportation circumstances, expediting service requirements for all parties involved. As existing app users have already claimed, the app is the fastest and easiest way to book a container in the European market.

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