Brussels Airport’s cloud based data sharing platform, BRUcloud has had a successful first two months with eight more companies using the application in their live operations.
The slot booking app eliminates the problem of waiting and idle times at ground handling facilities by coordinating the match between supply and demand of time slots, streamlining the pick up and delivery of freight at the ground handler and providing better capacity utilisation and elimination of peaks and idle times.
The tool makes it possible for the booker, such as a forwarder to request a single or recurrent time slot at a specific facility via a central web application for all ground handlers.
The supplier can make time slots for different cargo types available via the web interface or system-to-system link with its intern slot management system.
The app went live on 15 January with seven companies, and by 27 March another eight companies started using the app.
WFS general manager for Belgium, Eddy Myngheer says: “WFS supports this project for 100%. We strongly believe in the positive effects of the use of the Slot Booking App. The first GO LIVE was a success! The involved participants within WFS are more than ever enthusiastic about the further roll out.”
DHL Global Forwarding airfreight director, David Bellon says the app has helped improve planning of resources and reduced waiting times, saying: “DHL Global Forwarding is convinced this is a milestone providing transparency and an improved handling process at cargo pick-up and delivery. This is only a first step towards a further digitisation of our industry, more in particular at Brussels Airport.”
After the launch new partners showed an interest in the app; BRUcargo cargo development manager, Sara Van Gelder says: “Over the past months we have had meetings with all interested parties to demonstrate the application and inform them on how to become part of the user group.
This has resulted in 8 additional companies using the application as of this moment, while more parties are lined up to do the same in the weeks and months to come.”
Brussels Airport head of cargo & logistics, Steven Polmans says the application is part of the landside management tool being developed at Brussels, saying: “We will not only continue to improve and develop this app based on feedback of our users, later this year additional application will be launched that will interact and share data with the slot booking app.”
The companies that joined in January were Aviapartner, WFS, DHL Global Forwarding, Nippon Express, Kuehne + Nagel, Panalpina and IFA Skyfast, and the eight new participants are Saco Group Air, MSE, Bollore, WFS Forwarding, DB Schenker, CEVA Logistics, Yusen Logistics and DSV.
