When you are seeking to upgrade your IT in three separate cargo terminals and Pudong International Airport and a huge terminal at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, you need to plan very carefully to ensure minimum disruption. Not easy in such a fast-paced, round-the-clock business, and yet both PACTL and Hermes can claim success according to their latest press release. PACTL, which handles up to two million tons of cargo per year across its terminal system, is now upgraded to Hermes 5, following an operation that resulted in minimal downtime. It is the latest cargo handling company to upgrade to Hermes Logistics Technologies’ newest version of its Cargo Management System (CMS), this year. Sold as “function-rich CMS”, Cloud-based Hermes 5 is complemented by the pay-as-you-go suite of SaaS solutions that constitute the Hermes Ecosystem and include APIs (Application Programming Interfaces which create connections to various software systems to ensure seamless communication and data exchange), Business Intelligence, and Track and Trace. Secret of the quick and painless cutover? Comprehensive preparation in the form of an in-depth gap analysis followed by database optimization and training made available in Mandarin Chinese via Hermes’ Learning Management System (LMS).
Yuval Baruch, Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Logistics Technologies, remarked: “This was an upgrade, but on a massive scale that required comprehensive discovery work and preparation to ensure the switchover was both simultaneous and short, and downtime was reduced as much as possible. A key element of the project was the integration of Hermes 5 with other technology partners working with PACTL, through our standard and bespoke APIs. These enable full integration with other solutions, so data can be shared and operational efficiencies gained.”
Carsten Hernig, Deputy General Manager VP Sales & Marketing and Production, stated: “This upgrade has opened the door for us to provide customized services while also improving operational convenience. The partnership with HLT enhances our operational efficiency and ensures we stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the air cargo industry. Hermes 5 offers Cargo iQ messaging services such as FOW and FIW, and we have opted for a localized deployment to maximize data security.”
