The launch of eCargo Pouch' by Cargonaut International and Traxon Europe at the beginning of the year aroused great interest in the airfreight industry. This as well as the profound benefits the solution is offering were convincing enough for Cargo Community Network (CCN), to join the cooperation. The agreement was formally signed by Teow Boon Ling, General Manager of CCN and the eCargo Pouch' cooperation at the TIACA ACF 2010 in Amsterdam.

'eCargo Pouch' is an important component to facilitate the airfreight handling process. Its adoption will be a major stepping stone in the transfer from paper to digital', says Teow Boon Ling. The central document and message management system, eCargo Pouch', enables the creation, archiving and viewing of virtual document pouches which are comparable to the paper or plastic pouches that accompany air cargo shipments today. Freight forwarders can file trade and air transport documents, e.g. commercial invoices, certificates of origin, packing lists, air waybills or house air waybills electronically with eCargo Pouch'. The documents are then available in real time via internet to all authorized partners of the supply chain. These parties can be company subsidiaries, representative offices, partner companies in the country of destination, airlines, cargo handling agents, etc. Customs organizations strongly benefit from eCargo Pouch' too. If needed, all documents can be printed out locally and hence negating the need to express dispatch the documents in question.

In addition, the eCargo Pouch' system includes an archiving module. This is of great importance as a significant number of countries require legal archiving of trade and transport documents for many years.

'CCN as well as Cargonaut and Traxon have been working closely with IATA (International Air Transport Association) on products to facilitate e-freight. We are excited to bring the air cargo service to the next level of excellence,' says Teow Boon Ling.

'Our three companies have the same goals - to provide a best-in-class service to the airfreight industry and to be innovation leaders in this market. I am convinced that together we can market eCargo Pouch' more effectively on a global scale', says Arno Hoitink, Managing Director of Cargonaut International B.V.

All three companies will continue to service their existing as well as potential new clients according to the principle 'one face to the customer'. eCargo Pouch' complements their respective e-freight product portfolios. 'However, this cooperation also allows us to pool our resources to develop new e-freight products. Economies of scale are important as we try to stay abreast with industry changes in the areas of security, e-freight, and environment. The cost pressures remain enormous despite the upswing in the economy. Together we are much stronger', explains Felix Keck, Managing Director of TRAXON Europe.