Trivandrum, India, 30 July 2008: IBS Software Services, a leading global provider of newgeneration IT solutions to the Travel, Transportation and Logistics industry announced that its next-generation Cargo Management System, iCargo has gone-live for the first time at Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), Japan's only all-cargo airline, and IBS’ launch customer for the product. This system which was developed in collaboration with leading cargo airlines such as South African Airways Cargo, Gulf Air, Air New Zealand Cargo, Qantas Freight and Australian Air Express, provides comprehensive functionality to support the management of airfreight from shipper to consignee.
iCargo will optimize the inventory of NCA’s flights and allow them to plan airfreight capacity, track goods, manage customers, rate AWB, manage terminal operations and handle mail & Unit Load Devices (ULD). The new system which replaces the Unisys system will also allow NCA better overall revenue management.
Speaking on the occasion Masaaki Kariya, Senior VP and Director, IT strategy, Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) said “This is one of the biggest events for NCA that iCargo could have a successful cut over on 07 April 2008, 00:00 (Japan Local Time). We NCA and IBS have had a tough job to have this big success since project had started in July 2006. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Mathews, and all IBS staff who had joined NCA’s iCargo project. I can say that we NCA will improve our business processes with iCargo.”
Speaking on the occasion VK Mathews, Chairman and CEO, IBS Group said “I am very pleased that iCargo has now gone live at Nippon Cargo Airlines. This marks the most significant milestone in the evolution of the product since it was first conceived in 2002 and the fulfillment of a dream for the iCargo team. More importantly, iCargo provides NCA with a flexible and versatile Cargo Management System that will help them improve their service levels significantly, manage their cargo business in a more cost effective manner and remain competitive in an evolving market.”
Built on the latest technology, iCargo is an integrated solution that supports all the requirements of airlines’ cargo/freight business providing them enhanced web-enabled features that offer better product distribution. The system is robust, flexible and scalable to support the growing business needs of an airline while reducing overall cost of ownership and operation of the system.
About iCargo
iCargo is the prime product in the IBS Cargo Management suite of products (the others being iCargoLite+, iCargoLite and iCargoNet - an ASP version of iCargo). It is an integrated, system which comprehensively addresses cargo reservations, capacity control, ULD management, load planning, cargo terminal operations, Ground Handling, Revenue Accounting and Yield Management requirements of cargo carrying airlines. iCargo has evolved as a new-generation full-fledged cargo and logistics management system, supporting the entire logistics supply chain from shipper to consignee, via the world-wide-web.
The value proposition of iCargo is that it helps airlines and ground handlers enhance cargo business profitability, accommodate changing customer service demands and respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions and business situations, leveraging new-generation technologies, while reducing their total cost of spend on IT support and infrastructure, The product design supports innovative business models and is an inevitable and viable migration option for airlines, from the current legacy systems.
About Nippon Cargo Airlines
As Japan’s only all-cargo airline and the world’s third largest, Nippon Cargo Airlines Co. Ltd. (NCA) has consistently expanded its routes to major global markets since its establishment in 1978. NCA’s international distribution network links 16 cities in 11 countries, from Japan (Narita, Kansai, Nagoya) to North America (San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago), to Europe (Amsterdam, Milan, Frankfurt, London), to Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Seoul, Shanghai). NCA uses the B747 Freighter, with a loading capacity of 120 tons specially designed for cargo transport. It has a nose cargo door (convenient for loading extra long cargo) and side cargo doors (convenient for loading oversize cargo). NCA knows that companies in today's business environment rely on air cargo more than ever before and requirements have also become more complex as the quantity and variety of goods have increased. NCA is dedicated to bringing the customer high levels of quality and satisfaction.
