“2016 was a year of growth for Swiss WorldCargo,” declared Ashwin Bhat, Head of Cargo, “and we have invested in the future: during 2016 we introduced into service six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in addition to three Bombardier C series aircraft. This growth continues into 2017, in the 1st quarter of this year we have welcomed into our fleet another two 777.
     “Thanks to the continued support of our partners and customers, we could utilize the additional capacity within our network as per our expectation, despite a tough business environment.
     “Along with the capacity growth, we also enhanced our offering and capabilities to our customers.
     “It was well acknowledged.
     “We are hopeful the business environment will continue showing resilience and carry forward the positive trend of Q1 into the rest of the 2017.
     “Irrespective of the market situation, we have a clear strategy and plan under which we have a good number of new initiatives in the pipeline for 2017.
     “We improved transparency for our customers by enhancing our shipment track and trace capability along with implementing a technologically advanced website, which went live in March.
     “In an experience economy, we will be implementing new capabilities within the organization to further enhance customer experience and care; with these initiatives we want to stay on the forefront of being a customer champion,” Ashwin said.
     “Swiss WorldCargo remains focused on increasing our market shares and further bettering our product and service portfolio, particularly in the pharma and life science segment.
     “These enhancements covered the whole gamut from quality (implementation of quality corridor between ZRH and SIN) to increasing our packaging solutions offerings to our customers (reliable, high-quality, door-to-door, temperature-controlled solution with va-Q-tec) to allowing approved active tracking devices and providing a 24/7 dedicated intervention team in order to respond to the visibility requirements of the pharma industry.”

CEIV Certified & Upward

     “After getting our hub CEIV certified and GDP compliant, we are now in the process of getting Swiss WorldCargo organization as a whole CEIV certified.
     “This move serves as an example for further vertical industries we are currently focusing on,” Ashwin assured.  

People Rule Over Disruption

     “In today’s world of disruption,” Ashwin smiles, “one value that remains appreciated and stable is the need for ‘quality.’
     “Through its highly trained people, qualified partners, and strict and reliable processes, Swiss WorldCargo embodies the value of quality.
     “We are therefore a trusted brand overall, offering innovative and reliable solutions and services.
     “In a people business, our worldwide teams are considered industry experts in transporting special cargo, offering flexible and focused support.
     “Our team focuses on continued success for our customers, and we use all our values and strength to make it happen on a daily basis, globally.”

The Freight Forwarder Play

     “The forwarders are very important—this is without question.
     “Firstly, they have a number of options in the market and they can decide to work with any one of the other carriers/providers.
     “Their decision to work with us reaffirms our offering and strategy.
     “And we again are a strategic part in their supply chain and the success of their customers.”
     “Speed is of the essence in today’s world; hence the aim for me and my team is to be even faster and more nimble in implementing our plan and strategy in 2017.
     “I would wish for a more collaborative and mutually beneficial business approach to meet the challenges on the ground, to state one example.
     “Lest we forget, at the end of the day, shippers are the end customers who are at the beginning of a supply chain.
     “Hence, everything we offer the forwarders should finally meet the requirement and needs of the shipper.
     “This is what we explain as our main message from our hearts; it’s also part of our latest advertising campaign.”

“The new structure of Swiss WorldCargo is designed to make us more agile and put our customers in the center of all our activities,” declared Ashwin Bhat, head of cargo, as he introduced new team players during a recent rollout at Swiss headquarters in Zurich.       Pictured with Ashwin (center) from left are Head of Cargo Business Development & Customer Experience Team Andrés L. Perez, Head of Cargo Area & Contribution Management Alexander Arafa, and Head of Cargo Quality & Services Christian Wyss.       “In a people business like air cargo, it is extremely important that a well-structured organization and skilled professionals with individual strengths and diverse and varied experience deliver these services,” Ashwin Bhat said.

Something New For 2017

     “We have a number of new initiatives in the pipeline for 2017.
     “All of them are focused on our customers and our customer’s customer.
     “As mentioned at the top, we have improved transparency for our customers by enhancing our shipment track and trace capability and implementing a technologically advanced website and new capabilities within the organization to further enhance customer experience and care.”

Some Final Thoughts

     “All of us,” Ashwin Bhat offered, “have accepted the changes digitalization brought to our private life.
     “However, somehow we are skeptical to accept it in our industry.
     “I am not just talking about eAWB, etc. This cannot be our ambition.
     “I am talking digitization in a wider context.
     “Either we in air cargo accept, lead, and infuse it in our daily way of working, or else someone from outside is likely to disrupt and dictate to us,” Ashwin Bhat concluded.
Geoffrey