Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has introduced a new Compliance Checker to speed up cargo flows by detecting data errors in air waybills.
Developed as part of the European Green Fast Lanes Project, the system automatically inspects the content and format of the data, and Schiphol says the Compliance Checker decreases delays, the need to repeat work, and increase data quality, efficiency and predictability in the supply chain.
The system was developed by Cargonaut and tested by KLM Cargo, and uses smart technology, it checks air waybill data and sends automatic data if the information is not correct, preventing delays caused by sending non-compliant cargo to customs.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol head of cargo, Jonas van Stekelenburg says: “It is a generic tool, which benefits the whole supply chain. KLM is the first company to work with the Compliance Checker. However, other parties have already shown an interest in the project and we are actively looking for more partners, including shippers and forwarders, to help us expand this project.”
The Compliance Checker looks at data on both shipments and trucking levels, based on air waybill information, and is compliant with European Union Customs rules as well as outbound rules.
Air France KLM Cargo executive vice president, Marcel de Nooijer says: “With this tool, we continue to innovate the supply chain and we are able to keep to our promise and deliver the best quality throughout the shipment journey.”
Shipments are not transported until all the data is correctly inputted, and errors are rectified.
Cargonaut executive director, Nanne Onland explains: “The system recognises different descriptions of a similar product and flags this. The term iron, for example, would provoke an alert, as this term is not compliant with Customs rules, whereas the term iron pipes would not cause an alert because it is compliant.”
The first results show 80 per cent of errors occur in 20 per cent of shipments, Onland comments: “With this insight, together with our partners, we can better target improvement initiatives, allowing us to quickly improve quality of data, and hence the predictability and speed of the chain from, to, and via Schiphol.”
It was announced at the Air Cargo Europe trade fair on 10 May.
