Newstrack

New Gen cargo system for Emirates

EAW Staff - Kochi

IBS Software Services has completed delivery of Chameleon, a new-generation cargo-terminal operations system, for Emirates group. This is a multi-million dollar project described as over 120 person-years of effort and the largest IT system implementation that Emirates group has undertaken in recent times.

V K Mathews, IBS chairman and managing director said the time-schedule that Chameleon allowed was demanding. "We were able to cut over two large terminal operators from existing systems to the new system with minimum interruptions," he said. He declined to reveal the project cost.

IBS had earlier partnered with Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS), a division of Cendant Corp, for the marketing of IBS's new generation passenger services system designed to replace legacy technologies. According to Akshay Shrivastava, manager, Information Services, Cargo and Logistics, Emirates group IT, as Chameleon project owner, Emirates could not have asked for more.

Thanks to the new customised product, Emirates SkyCargo and Dnata Cargo are currently operating with the most advanced cargo ground handling and warehouse management IT system in the aviation industry, he said.

Chameleon, according to an IBS release, facilitates a ground handler to manage all cargo terminal operations from reserving an air waybill to manifesting the shipment on a flight on the export/air side and to receive cargo from the airline and deliver the shipment to the consignee on the import/land side. It also supports radio communications through handheld terminals and improves productivity and service levels by defining flexible workflows and monitoring the performance for different business processes.

IBS's new product also had cargo revenue implications for Emirates, IBS sources said. Special features enable data communication, using mobile computers and handheld devices to improve flow control and piece-level tracking, and hence reduce operational errors. The system is expected to improve productivity and service levels by automating workflow, enabling paperless internal processes, and monitoring processes and performance.

Chameleon also provides customers, suppliers and other business partners direct control over logistics, processes and costs, while offering an advanced tool that boosts productivity and profitability.

IBS, whose offshore software production and competence development centre, is based in Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, and caters to British Airports Authority, Air Canada, Emirates, Dubai Airport, Swiss, Qantas, SITA, EDS, Shell, Gulfshare and Qatar Airways. Basically a travel, trasportation and logistics solutions provider, IBS is SEI CMM Level-5 assessed and ISO 9001:2000 and TickIT certified.