Business and Government to strengthen Schiphol with investment in Cargonaut open IT platform

Exchange of real-time information on shipments, their transport and locations is becoming more and more important in logistics. This is particularly true in air cargo, where an open information platform is of great importance. In addition, Governments require ever more information. In recognition of these factors, it has been decided to modernize Schiphol Airport’s Cargonaut information platform, with an investment of around 2 million Euros. Half of this sum will come in the form of a grant from Top Sector Logistics (see 1 below), while the remainder will be provided by Dutch Customs, Logius, ACN, Schiphol Group and Cargonaut itself. The investment aims to strengthen Schiphol’s competitive position, and therefore of all industry players at the airport together with the Government.  Schiphol’s Community information platform, Cargonaut, has been operational since 1986. Initially, it focused on messaging between parties; but, over the years, it has been improving and speeding up all the processes involved in the import and export of goods through Schiphol. Examples include DGVS (see 2 below), eCargoReceipt, ScanLog and eLink; these "community apps" support processes between parties (including Government), and often also involve ACN, or public-private partnerships. The cooperation needed to achieve this is seen as unique elsewhere in the world, and is increasingly being echoed at other airports. Says Nanne Onland (CEO Cargonaut): “The world around us is changing at high speed, and the strong and innovative position of Schiphol can no longer be taken for granted. Strong cooperation, well-managed  processes and maximum support from state-of-the-art IT resources are the keys to increase the competitiveness of Schiphol, and therefore of all stakeholders, including the Government.” Cargonaut recognizes that there are more and more IT vendors providing effective solutions for parties operating in air cargo. However, these applications need up-to-date information about shipments, transport and locations for smart airport handling - so they need a Port Community Information platform that is safe and open, that can make available reliable, comprehensive and up to date information, and that allows companies and their IT providers to conduct their own development faster.   Brussels is also setting out requirements for Customs processes, protocols and ICT systems; recently  the WCO (World Customs Organization) data model and the new Air Single Window Government Portal have been announced. The Dutch Government itself wants to cooperate as closely as possible with the industry and its Community Information platforms, to ensure that processes are integrated and features and information are re-used. All these factors mean that some EUR 2 million will need to be invested in the next 2 years, to renew the Community information platform and applications, and so give users access to the most modern and reliable resources possible. Large-scale information sharing is among the challenges that lie ahead. The EURO 980,000 grant from Top Sector Logistics (NLIP) - was conditional on industry and government co-funding. 50% of co-funding will be provided by Customs and Logius and the other half will be provided by Schiphol, ACN and Cargonaut itself. Concludes Onland: “All parties at Schiphol will reap the fruits. With the help of a renewed Schiphol Community information platform, better and faster processes will be supported with modern tools, and can also be further developed towards the creation of new ‘Green Fast Lanes’”.  In the near future, all users of the Schiphol Community information platform will be given the opportunity to share with Cargonaut their wishes, needs and views surrounding the platform’s  renewal.