ALTP Launches Digital Airfreight Solutions to Bolster Air Cargo
As part of ongoing efforts to accelerate the digitalisation of Abu Dhabi’s trade and logistics landscape and to further enhance the capabilities of the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP), Maqta Gateway, AD Ports Group’s digital arm, has introduced Digital Airfreight Solutions as part of the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP).
Inaugurated in May 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, the Advanced Trade and Logistics Platform (ATLP) is the first of its kind in the region.
It is developed and operated by Maqta Gateway under the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) supervision. It aims to integrate and facilitate the operations of trade and logistics sectors and link the sea, land, air, industrial and free zones with all authorities regulating these activities.
The Digital Airfreight Solutions, developed in close collaboration with key partners that include Abu Dhabi Airports, Etihad Airport Services and Etihad Cargo, the new solution will streamline the movement of air cargo shipments to and from all five airports in Abu Dhabi.
Beyond digitalising and simplifying the processing of air cargo for the benefit of all stakeholders and customers involved, ATLP’s latest solutions will introduce new levels of efficiencies, including reducing waiting times by 80 per cent, improving delivery time via customs integration, enhancing track and trace visibility, introducing digital payment channels as well as enhancing warehouse utilisation through an automated appointment system.
Dr Noura Al Dhaheri, Head of Digital Cluster at AD Ports Group and CEO of Maqta Gateway, said: “With the introduction of digital airfreight solutions into ATLP, we have passed a key milestone on our journey to accelerate the digitalisation of trade and logistics in the region.
“ATLP is taking the following steps towards enhancing transparency across the entire value chain and enabling stakeholders and customers to realise new efficiencies associated with the movement of air cargo to and from Abu Dhabi.
“The continued evolution ATLP is a testament to the leadership’s vision for a fully-integrated logistics ecosystem that positions Abu Dhabi as a leading trade, logistics, and economic hub powered by a formidable and future-ready digital foundation.”
The introduction of Digital Airfreight Solutions under ATLP has brought a plethora of operational efficiencies beneficial for both logistical operators and users of the platform.
In addition to reducing the amount of paperwork needed for air cargo shipments by 90 per cent, the new services also cut down on unnecessary trips to the airport for air freight agents by 80 per cent by providing digital access to all required documentation, as well as related online payments and handling of documents to the ground handler.
This, in turn, has reduced the time required for the entire process down from 1 hour to a mere six minutes, and the digitalisation of documents has dramatically improved staff efficiency by 50 per cent.
Digital Airfreight Solutions has also reduced delivery time by 50 per cent for imports and exports. This was achieved thanks to the online submission of documents, enabling ground handlers to perform pre-checks and process shipments without waiting for the customer to arrive at the counter.
In the case of exports, the new service has reduced the processing time by 25 per cent (80 to 60 minutes), while for imports, the amount of time needed has also been cut down by 20 per cent (67 to 54 minutes). Lastly, ATLP’s latest additions have also reduced truck wait times by 50 per cent.