Air New Zealand said it will be introducing new tracking technology. It will allow the airline to more easily track and analyse the movements of cargo shipments and its cargo equipment worldwide.
The airline will install more than 5,500 Bluetooth tags on its cargo containers, pallets and unit load devices and more than 100 readers at 29 airports in New Zealand and overseas to provide real
time information on cargo movements.
When a tagged item passes the reader, it automatically updates an online application providing real-time information to the team.
The system, which is claimed to be a world-first large-scale deployment of New Zealand technology, has been designed and manufactured by Orlando, FL-based Core Transport Technologies Inc., which
also has offices in Hong Kong and Nelson, New Zealand. The company's website states the Bluetooth-based cargo system is copyright Core Technologies NZ.
Enormous efficiencies expected
The tech firm’s managing director Ian Craig said: “We believe this to be the first time this type of technology has been deployed at this large scale anywhere in the world.”
While the technology is only being used in Air New Zealand’s internal process at this stage, the airline hopes to make it customer-facing in the future.
Air New Zealand General Manager of Cargo Rick Nelson said the technology will drive enormous efficiencies for the airline.
Introduction driven by NZ’s staff
“This technology has been introduced as a result of direct feedback from our cargo and airport staff who saw an opportunity to enhance our handling processes,” he said.
“These Bluetooth tags and readers will not only allow us to speed up cargo handling but also improve our accuracy and inventory management and help to locate any missing items.”
Nelson added that the airline sees "significant potential for this technology," which could be rolled out at airports to monitor ground service equipment, or used to manage mail shipments.
"Eventually we would like to see it become customer facing so our cargo customers can more easily track their shipments,” Nelson said.
Air New Zealand Cargo operates an average of 3,566 cargo flights per week and exports a total of 42,000 tonnes of goods from New Zealand annually.
Nol van Fenema