newstodate.aero
Oct 05, 2009 (newstodate): Contrary to expectations, the current downturn in the aviation and airfreight industry has not prompted the further penetration of electronic bookings.
-The strong pressure on cost has not really led to increased use of electronic communication between airlines and freight forwarders, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo director Nordic & Baltics.
-It seems that the human factor is holding back the process. Many companies have been forced to lay off staff, and the people at the offices have limited resources left to change procedures and introduce new working methods. One might have expected that especially in times marked by needs to cut costs and increase efficiency, e-bookings would have been considered an ideal tool to reach both targets.
-Having said that, the process of implementing e-bookings has indeed made great strides in the Nordic airfreight markets, spurred by a generally high level of implementation of IT tools, says Mr Wichmann.
-The strong pressure on cost has not really led to increased use of electronic communication between airlines and freight forwarders, says Kay Wichmann, Lufthansa Cargo director Nordic & Baltics.
-It seems that the human factor is holding back the process. Many companies have been forced to lay off staff, and the people at the offices have limited resources left to change procedures and introduce new working methods. One might have expected that especially in times marked by needs to cut costs and increase efficiency, e-bookings would have been considered an ideal tool to reach both targets.
-Having said that, the process of implementing e-bookings has indeed made great strides in the Nordic airfreight markets, spurred by a generally high level of implementation of IT tools, says Mr Wichmann.