Independent forwarder members of the WCA network will all have free access to WIN’s electronic air waybill (e-AWB) platform for the remainder of this year, delegates at the WCA's annual conference 2016 have heard.
The WIN platform, designed specifically for independent cargo agents and which connects to over 90 airlines, will now allow WCA members to submit any International Air Transport Association (IATA) Resolution 672 (paperless) e-AWB free of charge, as well as to make electronic bookings and receive tracking alerts.
“We are at a tipping point, with the level of e-AWB adoption in the industry approaching the halfway mark,” said WIN’s managing director, John DeBenedette. “Independents can act now to gain the same level of efficiencies already enjoyed by multinational forwarders and tap into the growing trend of airport fast lanes for cargo tendered with electronic data in advance.”
WCA’s CEO, Dan March, added: “WCA takes pride in our long history as an innovative business development platform helping independent forwarders compete on a level playing field with their larger rivals. For our members, going electronic is not just about eliminating paper or helping airlines increase their efficiency which is all well and good, but equally important it’s about benefiting from the real-time shipment visibility, system integration, and member collaboration features that we've also built into WIN."
And Glyn Hughes, IATA’s global head of cargo congratulated WCA's leadership for supporting the air cargo industry’s drive to go paperless. “Air cargo needs to upgrade its value proposition as shipper expectations become ever more demanding and paper-based solutions just can’t deliver the quality, transparency and predictability that is required,” he declared.
