May 2017

22 APAC / May 2017 , with the new players joining the logistics business introducing a completely new business model in the otherwise traditional industry. Asia is enjoying a healthy growth in cargo demand supported by the growing consumer market. We are shifting focus to develop services required for express cargo and postal service which are seeing rapid growth with the expansion of e-commerce, and the pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors which demand specialized services. What are the main benefits to being based in Singapore, in your opinion? Are there any benefits specific to your town or city? The geographical location of Singapore, in the heart of Southeast Asia, offers the business opportunity to access a market of 2.8 billion people which is the backbone of our business. The government’s emphasis on competitiveness and productivity creates an exciting business environment generating a workforce with efficiency and technical proficiency. This multicultural and cosmopolitan society where people bring their extensive knowledge and business expertise embodies the very culture we embrace as an international carrier. What is the internal culture in your firm? How do you ensure that all of your staff are equipped to provide the best possible service to your clients? Air France KLM Martinair Cargo boasts a wide variety of different business units, activities, cultural backgrounds and specialties. To maintain our service level, employees undergo regular trainings in commercial and operational procedures, safety standards and legal matters to ensure the quality of service and expertise to serve our customers. What does the future have in store for your firm? Do you have any future plans or projects you would like to share with us? Air France KLM is a passenger carrier but network decisions are driven just as much by cargo since more than 80% of our flights rely on our contribution to the overall profitability. Replacing the 747s, the new passenger aircraft joining our fleet are more cargo-friendly as the 777-300s can carry an average of 20 tons of cargo, and the 787s about 17.5 tons. We complement the capacity of our passenger fleet with the main deck capacity of our 747 Combis and full freighter aircraft. Through this flexible concept we are able to offer a wide range of solutions to the market. We are improving processes and investing in new facilities to take advantage of the increasing volume of pharma logistics. To further enhance Good Distribution Practices, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo obtained IATA CEIV (Centre of Excellence for Independent Validations) Pharma certification, to validate the high standards for handling of pharmaceutical products. We are also collaborators of the research project of Pharma Gateway Amsterdam (PGA), a joint project with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to develop an early warning system for pharma shippers, data collection and monitoring. To develop and secure e-commerce related business, Air France KLM Martinair Cargo has embarked on an overhaul of its processes to enhance productivity and develop business with Integrators and Couriers. To accommodate the principle of “delivery on demand”, which requires fast transport, in Schiphol we joined forces with Rhenus and Cargonaut to create e-Fast Delivery, a unique concept to simplify the cargo delivery process. In Paris CDG, Hub Express CDG was constructed in close proximity to the aircraft with capacity to handle over 6,000 parcels per hour. In Singapore, are there any upcoming developments you are particularly excited for and how will your firm adapt around these? The increasing competition in the business leaves no room for errors or lapses in efficiency. Customers are asking for more visibility so they can have confidence that their cargo is being handled efficiently through the supply chain and find solutions if there are issues. We will accelerate the distribution of digital services in order to support our customer’s business growth and boost our efficiency. The new platform is called “myCargo”, a digital platform to manage the vast amounts of exchange between Air France KLM Martinair Cargo and our customers. The strategic guidelines of the digital program is to develop ease of access and reliable services. “myCargo” consist of a dashboard to check all your activity and notifications, record of quotes to request, save or book directly with our quotations where we offer the best available rate; status of your shipment where all the records of your booked shipment displays on-time location; and the e-claims platform where you can submit claims and monitor progress without the physical of paper documents. We are constantly on the move to innovate and transform to supply our customers with the best in class service.