DACHSER is transferring its range of logistics services to the digital world. As a company-wide digitalization project, the DACHSER platform is a central building block for fundamentally redesigning the customer experience. At the transport logistic trade fair, customers and interested parties were given their first glimpse of the platform, which will be available to all DACHSER customers from 2024.
From concept to platform: the interface of the new DACHSER platform
For many years, DACHSER has been developing software and systems in-house that are tailored entirely to the needs of its customers. The DACHSER platform is a logical continuation of this philosophy. The platform is currently being developed in an agile project setup, i.e. in direct exchange with selected pilot customers.
Transparent one-stop solution
The DACHSER platform brings together the services of the Road Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics business fields in a user-friendly, modern interface. Supplemented by innovations such as end-to-end tracking across all freight routes, this creates a customized, digital one-stop solution for customers. DACHSER is thus taking a major step toward completely transparent flows of goods and data, especially with regards to intercontinental transports using different modes of transport.
The DACHSER platform is developed iteratively and in direct exchange with customers.
Product development is taking place within iterative testing and development phases. Since the start of the project, intensive research phases have been used to query customer needs and obtain feedback on product designs. Since April 2023, pilot customers have already been working with a first version of the platform. All research results are always incorporated into the subsequent development phase. This way of thinking and working is an expression of an agile, digital mindset that DACHSER is promoting throughout the company as part of its digitization strategy.
Ralf Messing, Team Leader eLogistics Consulting at DACHSER, demonstrates the dashboard at the transport logistic trade fair in Munich.
Highlight at transport logistic 2023
Insights into the new platform were offered for the first time at the leading transport logistic trade fair in Munich. DACHSER customers, interested parties, and the media were able to learn about the project's vision, development, and timeline roadmap on interactive screens.
Packaging suitable for stress and transport to prevent damage
Especially in the current uncertain economic situation, the main focus is on safety and ability to deliver. The damage-free transport of goods is essential for this and requires packaging that is suitable for stress and transport. In the following, we would like to give an overview of damage prevention through packaging.
Global pandemic measures as well as continuing high demand have a strong impact on the air freight market. This is reflected in reduced cargo capacities due to restricted and partly suspended passenger flight connections, congested airports, handling facilities and employees.
Review 2021
The increase in air freight demand since the beginning of the year cannot be satisfied with the current air freight capacities. Though, a slight improvement is noticeable.
All major airports worldwide have been congested resulting in huge backlog volumes and long waiting times. However, with secured premium capacities on its own weekly charter rotations between Asia, Europe and the US, as well as long-term freight allotments on regular airline services worldwide, DACHSER continued to be a reliable partner also in the second year of the pandemic.
The increased demand for consumer goods, the huge growth in e-commerce, and the procurement of medical equipment due to COVID-19 led to an increased number of individual partial and full charter transports.
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Current Situation
Manufacturing and trading industries remain affected by congested supply chains. Therefore, the demand for air freight capacity is still increasing, in addition to the regular Peak Season during Christmas and Chinese New Year.
Hong Kong
Due to the strict quarantine policy in Hong Kong, some airlines have cancelled their flights before Christmas. The resulting shortage of ground handling staff is causing significant service restrictions at Hong Kong Airport.
Export shipments can currently only be delivered to the terminal within 24 hours prior to estimated departure. Shipments without booking record will not be accepted. There is also an overload situation in import and delays have to be expected.
Hong Kong Airport had already announced in early December that cargo aircraft touching Omicron high-risk countries such as South Africa would not be allowed into Hong Kong until further notice. This leads to a shortage of cargo space and delays due to flight re-routings.
Frankfurt / Germany
At Frankfurt Airport, there are also still some delays in handling, especially at Frankfurt Cargo Service (FCS). Export handling has been delayed, and import handling has been subject to extended waiting times. The warehouses at all handling agents are full, especially at FCS.
Ad-hoc charter business
DACHSER is currently operating several full charter flights as part of a project transport between China and Austria. Read moreabout this project.
Outlook 2022
The tense situation will remain throughout the first half of 2022, easing slightly after Chinese New Year. On the other hand, air freight capacity will increase only gradually, as belly capacity will remain low.
Due to the unpredictable course of the pandemic and a still unstable ocean freight market, leaves plenty of scope for the development of the air freight market in 2022.
DACHSER Air Network
DACHSER is extending its own premium air freight services between Hong Kong and Europe in 2022 and beyond. With this extension, 100 additional cargo tons on weekly 747-400 freighter flights will extend the capacity on this route.
The premium freighter capacities from Asia (Hong Kong & Shanghai) to Europe and between Europe and the USA (rotation) are already an integral part of the DACHSER network for a long time now, and DACHSER is looking forward to continue providing this service to help secure customers' global supply chains.
For further details about the DACHSER Air Network capacities and the market please get in touch with your local DACHSER sales contact.
The Indian monsoon season has started and will last until the end of September. Additional precautions are highly suggested when packing incoming and outgoing cargos.
India is currently experiencing an unusual monsoon season. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) projected the amount of rainfall to be 97% higher than last year. There are heavy and frequent rainfalls, accompanied by gusty winds.
It is inevitable that the outer packing of the cargos will be exposed directly to rain water during transfer. Therefore, additional precautions are deemed necessary when packing cargos.
Shippers are recommended to ensure all parcels are suitably packed and adequately covered with polythene sheets or waterproof material to withstand high humidity and prevent from getting wet by rain water seeping in.
Please contact your DACHSER representatives for more advices.
DACHSER offers sea freight LCL expedited service from China to the USA
In response to the current ports congestions in the US West Coast resulting long dwell times and unreliable shipping schedules, DACHSER launches LCL expedited service connecting China to the US with sharp cut on dwell time.