BIAL introduces Air Cargo Community System to strengthen air logistics

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)

As a part of its long-term vision to make Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB/ BLR Airport) a “Smart Airport – digitized and seamlessly connected” - Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) is set to introduce the Air Cargo Community System (ACS) to further streamline and strengthen air logistics. ACS is a digital platform that brings together all cargo stakeholders, including customs, customs brokers, shippers, airlines, trucking companies, ground & cargo handlers, and freight forwarders, under one roof, to facilitate seamless movement of goods and data across the logistics ecosystem. Owing to multiple stakeholders involved in cargo operations, each shipment, on an average, requires over 30 types of documents in multiple copies, resulting in significant duplication of documentation. It also leads to increased wastage of time and supply chain disruption. ACS will eliminate paperwork at BLR Airport, enable faster processing of transactions, reduce duplication of information, and streamline processes, making information available prior to the cargo reaching the Airport. BIAL has signed an e-agreement with Kale Logistics Solutions, a leading IT solution provider, to develop the ACS platform – an effective business continuity tool that BIAL can provide for its cargo stakeholders.

“At BIAL, our vision is to make BLR Airport a cargo hub, equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge technology to deliver efficient operations. As part of our digital transformation efforts, together with our cargo community, we are excited to implement a data-sharing platform,” said Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Strategy & Development Officer, BIAL. “This reinforces BIAL's commitment to support the Airport cargo community and bolster the growth of BLR Airport as a cargo hub. "The demonstrated efficiencies of ACS will ensure development of a technologically-enabled cargo community at BLR Airport.”

Amar More, CEO, Kale Logistics Solutions, said: “In the digital age, airports must be nimble to manage issues related to security, rising costs, unprecedented lockdowns and curfews. Kale's ACS for BIAL is a next-gen community platform, which will enable collaboration between stakeholders in the supply chain to launch new services and deliver superior customer experiences. We are happy to partner with BIAL in their digital transformation journey to become resilient and adaptable. ACS is developed on the principle of enabling a cohesive ecosystem of partnership and driving efficiency in air cargo operations with the highest level of data accuracy, security and compliance. ACS is a single window electronic platform of all stakeholders of air cargo value chain to interact with each other digitally, eliminating unnecessary documentation, delays, opaqueness of supply chain, and improving ease of doing business for the air cargo sector."