“Digital Authorization for Pick-up” replaces collection order / Data in advance: authorization information available as early as two hours before landing / Customs status and readiness for pick-up in real time / Integrated slot booking / Expansion to all operations in the second half of the year

The air cargo IT company allivate is digitalizing the pick-up process for import shipments at Frankfurt Airport. From now on, the relevant processes will run smoothly without paper documentation through the Cargo Community System FAIR@link under the name Smart Pick-up. The “Digital Authorization for Pick-up,” which replaces the former collection order, plays a central role in this. The pilot operation of Smart Pick-up is launched since the beginning of May.

Digital authorization instead of paper documents

Over a period of two months, the freight forwarders Kühne & Nagel and DB Schenker, the handling agent LUG and the freight forwarding service provider CHI Cargo will be testing the synergies of the new digital processes. Instead of the physical collection order, the pilot partners will use the FAIR@link platform to transfer the Digital Authorization for Pick-up as verification for the release of the shipment. “The new Digital Authorization for Pick-up enables efficient handover of shipments and represents a huge leap forward in the digitalization of logistics processes at Frankfurt Airport. At the same time, it also improves the traceability of pick-up processes, which leads to greater transparency and security throughout the entire supply chain,” explains allivate Managing Director Martina Schikorr.

Authorization begins before landing

Smart Pick-up triggers processes on the ground while the shipments are still in the air. Authorization for pick-up can take place up to two hours before touchdown. As a result, once the freight arrives at Frankfurt Airport, it can be seamlessly forwarded along the transport chain. “With our platform, it is easy to see at a glance when the cargo is ready for pick-up and authorized for pick-up, what the customs status is and, if applicable, the dangerous goods status. Truck slot booking is also integrated. This enables the earliest possible scheduling and avoids wasted trips,” reports Gladiator.

Paperless handover of shipments