Real-time Warehouse and Proactive Service Management for Air Cargo Handling

HERMES Logistics Technologies (HLT) is uniquely defined by its people. HLT was established in 2002 by a group of air cargo veterans with the single goal of creating the IT platform that will truly address the needs of air cargo terminals, from the warehouse floor and upwards, and deliver exceptional service to  the cargo terminal’s airline customers. Backed by the resources of a large international software vendor, this group of cargo professionals has created HERMES the leading Air Cargo Terminal Management Solution.   

In the few short years since, HERMES, already in its third generation, has established itself as the benchmark system in the market place. Operating more than 25 cargo terminals over three continents, HERMES helps blue chip organizations like Menzies Aviation, PACTL (Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal), GroundForce, International Cargo Centre Shenzhen and many others, deliver unprecedented service levels. Cargo terminals operating HERMES range from small to very large with cargo volumes from 20,000 to 1,000,000 metric tons per year in a single terminal, a true testament to the industrial strength and versatility of the product. Designed from the ground up to address the needs of modern competitive air cargo terminals HERMES delivers revolution rather than evolution in functionality and efficiency.

Failure Prevention Vs. Failure Recovery

In an economic climate where a clear double trend of downward pressure on price combined with demands for higher quality of service prevails, traditional Air Cargo  Handling Computer Systems fail to deliver. Most of the Cargo Handling Solutions implemented today operate with an information time gap between the actual physical handling of cargo and documentation and when these activities are reported into the information system. This gap reduces the process efficiencies that may be offered by a good Information System and forces a “reactive” backward looking (this is what went wrong …) approach rather than a pro-active forward looking (this is what you need to do to prevent failure …) approach to handling.  Service failure recovery is the most costly activity for a cargo ground handler. 

HERMES, by HERMES Logistics Technologies, is the first Air Cargo Terminal Management Solution to solve the information gap and offer Real-time Warehouse facilities combined with Real-time Service Level monitoring. HERMES removes the information gap utilising advanced RF hand-held computers that record all warehouse activities as they occur in Real-time, providing accurate, reliable and measureable data. Using barcode technology (and/or RFID), HERMES further increases quality by eliminating the manual paperbound processes that plagues warehouse activities. Instead of using pen and paper in an environment hostile to hand writing, the HERMES mobile terminal is used for performing all physical handling activities, reducing the complexity of most operations to two simple barcode scans! All information is then immediately available for back-office processing and vice versa. All back-office processing that affects the warehouse is immediately communicated to the production floor via the RF mobile terminals, allowing for a truly efficient parallel production line.

However, the true power of HERMES lies in its clever application of these Real-time capabilities. Using a sophisticated Profiling facility, HERMES can describe in excess of half a million different Service Profiles. These Service Profiles allow the Ground Handler to tailor the handling process to match the individual requirements of the airline customers by providing complete mapping of the contractual cargo handling Service Level Agreements (SLA) between the ground handler and the airlines.

For every shipment handled,  HERMES automatically selects the appropriate handling profile (based on various characteristics like: Airline, Type of Aircraft, Special Handling requirements, Day of Week, Agent, Etc.) and tracks the progression of the handling for that shipment utilising its Real-time information. Base on the Service Profile and the Real-time process, HERMES is cable of predicting and alerting the Ground Handler of imminent service failures on a shipment-by-shipment level (where every shipment is tracked according to its individual profile). This allows for a complete paradigm shift from retrospective management of service failures (with all the paperwork and expertise involved) to forward looking failure prevention.

Comprehensive Air Cargo Terminal Management

The Real-time and Service Level Monitoring provide the foundation for the most complete coverage of the air cargo ground handling process in the market, with exceptional functional depth. HERMEs functionality encompasses: Cargo Documentation & Manifesting, Warehouse Management, Integrated Communications (SITA, EDI, CARGOIMP, fax, email, XML),  HAWB Management with Consolidation and De-consolidation, Planning, Inventory, Special Handling, Non Airwaybill handling (make it ready for carriage), Track & Trace, Integrated Dangerous Goods handling, High Volume and cargo HUB Handling, ULD Management, Trucking and Road Feeder service, Truck Dock and Truck Queue Control,  Security and Embargo Management, Ramp Integration, Modular Customs and NCTS, Billing and Invoicing, Performance Analysis and KPIs, Built-in quality management procedures, Full compliance with Cargo 2000 and Document Image Archiving.

HERMES adds additional value by automatically disseminating information between all it modules. By integrating all operational modules, all areas of the operation, be it Warehouse, Back-office, Documentation, Reception, Planners, etc. are always up-to-date with the latest status of every shipment. Furthermore, Hermes is proactively applying business rules that reduce workloads and errors by turning timely information into knowledge. Real-time handling activities are updating the EDI Messaging module, Financial module, Transfer module, ULD module, Door Control module and much more, without the need to re-key information or have human operators involved. HERMES outputs are generated automatically and without user intervention. This level of process Integration generates increased efficiency by allowing handling staff to concentrate on productive rather than repetitive activities. It also reduces human errors, increases accuracy and speeds up the overall handling process.

Commitment to our Customers’ Excellence

The HERMES fundamental principles of Proactive Service Management based on Real-Time information, Paperless operation and High degree of process automation allow HERMES users to provide higher levels of service while substantially reducing operational costs. HERMES truly allows the Ground Handler to profitably address the Service/Price conundrum.

Our products are “Developed by Ground Handlers for Ground Handlers” and HLT is committed to further building on these principles, continuously delivering the right  solutions, developing and extending HERMES’ capabilities in order to always allow our customers to profitably provide trend leading levels of service. 

Email info@hermes-cargo.com for more information about the HERMES product family and HERMES Logistics the Company.