The Hindu Business Line : iCargo goes live at Nippon Cargo

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug. 6 A next-generation airline cargo management system, iCargo from IBS Software Services, has gone live at Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), Japan’s only all-cargo airline.

IBS is a leading global provider of new-generation IT solutions to the travel, transportation and logistics industry. Nippon Cargo is the launch customer for iCargo.

An integrated solution, iCargo supports the requirements of airlines’ cargo/freight business providing enhanced Web-enabled features that offer better product distribution.

An IBS spokesman claimed here that it is the only fully integrated cargo management system developed for the industry to have gone live at any airline anywhere in the world.

Also significant is the fact that it is running at the world’s third largest all-cargo carrier, managing their complete cargo business replacing the legacy Unisys system, the hitherto ‘de facto’ standard solution for airlines world over.

iCargo 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. It provides comprehensive functionality to support the management of airfreight from shipper to consignee.

It will help optimise the inventory of NCA’s flights and allow them to plan airfreight capacity, track goods, manage customers and terminal operations, and handle mail and unit load devices. The new system will also facilitate better overall revenue management. According to Mr Masaaki Kariya, Senior Vice-President and Director, IT Strategy, NCA, it was a major event for NCA that iCargo could have had a successful ‘cut over’ on April 7, 2008. NCA and IBS have had a tough job on their hands ever since the project got off to a start in July 2006. Mr V.K. Mathews, Chairman and CEO, IBS Group, said this marked the most significant milestone in the evolution of the product after it was first conceived in 2002 and is a fulfilment of a dream for the iCargo team.