The effect of automation, artificial intelligence and digitalisation were the key topics at the Cargo Connect conference at Dubai Airshow 2019.  Speakers including Dennis Lister, Vice President, Cargo Commercial Development, Emirates SkyCargo, discussed the impact of the three key topics on the future of cargo and freight.

An autonomous delivery device known as Roxo, exhibited by headline sponsors FedEx Express, delighted delegates, gliding up on to the stage to bring notes to conference MC Kim Winter of Logistics Executive, and obeying voice commands from Jack Muhs, Regional President, FedEx Express MIESA.

Muhs said Roxo, created in collaboration with DEKA Research and Development Corp, will be an important part of the FedEx ecosystem and serves as a demonstration of FedEx’s goal to connect people and possibilities around the world.

He said: “Roxo is an autonomous delivery device designed to help retailers make same day and last mile deliveries to our customers while potentially reducing the number of vehicles on the road and easing traffic congestion. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing to bring to Dubai?”

Speaking in a keynote address at the conference, Muhs also announced a partnership with Dubai Airports, and the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to define ways in which the autonomous bot can meet delivery needs in the United Arab Emirates.

Delegates also heard from Alexander Ostrovoy, Managing Partner, Aura, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer, which is currently working on expansion projects globally. Ostrovoy said regulation of the autonomous aircraft sector was relatively mild, and was still under development, but governments globally were ‘loyal’ to the field.  

Other announcements included a partnership between Etihad and online cargo booking platform Cargo One, made by Abdulla Mohammed Shadid, Managing Director, Cargo and Logistics, Etihad.

In the freight forwarding sector, Bradley Francis, Director, Airfreight UAE and Oman, Kuehne + Nagel, said his company had identified a decrease in tonnage being flown, but there had not been the same reduction in shipments counts. “We are seeing more shipments that are smaller moving around,” he said.

Francis raised the need for information to be automated, and shared automatically through the supply chain, from airline to truck to ship, to remove the need for staff to continually replicate and send on data at different stages.

“We don’t need an expert to watch a shipment that’s going perfectly, ideally what we want our experts to be doing is looking at what needs to be done to improve our delivery time or notify customers of delays,” he said

The need to share data and collaborate across the industry was also highlighted by Alan White, Vice President, Ground Operations, National Air Cargo, who said: “If we want a seamless end to end logistics supply chain, it is only going to work in the future if we are allowed to collaborate more.”

“Everyone is accumulating data of some sort, it is a case of how best to utilise that data with all the relevant parties that is critical for the future.”

Rachel Sturgess, Portfolio Director for Cargo Connect, said: “The Cargo Connect conference provided real opportunities for industry networking, with thought leaders offering fascinating insights into how technologies including automation and artificial intelligence will shape it in the future.”

For Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, contact: Kate McGinley, PR Manager – T: +971 4603 3300 E: kate.mcginley@dubai.aero 

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About Cargo Connect

Cargo Connect took place on 18 November 2019 at DWC, Dubai Airshow Site within the Dubai Airshow. This conference and exhibition brought together industry professionals from across the cargo supply chain to discuss global trends, regional challenges and the future of the cargo industry.

Cargo Connect featured Airlines, airport authorities, port authorities, police, customs, freight forwarders, cargo operators and carriers to discuss the future of the cargo industry. In addition, the conference created a wide range of networking and thought leadership programmes.

For more information about the series, please visit: www.cargoconnect.aero 

About Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East

Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East is one of the most influential names in the aerospace industry's events sector, which launched the very first Dubai Airshow in 1989, in conjunction with Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Airports and the UAE Armed Forces.

Covering all aerospace-related events in the Tarsus portfolio, Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East has a long-standing relationship with the global aerospace industry, an in-depth knowledge of the market and a hard-earned reputation for delivering event excellence. Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East maintains offices in Dubai and London.

Other events organised by Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East include Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) www.gatm.aero , Space Pavilion and Tech Talks www.spaceuae.aero ,  the Dubai Airshow www.dubaiairshow.aero , the MEBAA Show www.mebaa.aero , Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) www.aime.aero , Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul Middle East (MRO ME) www.mrome.aero , MEBAA Conferences www.mebaaconference.com  and the MEBAA Show Morocco www.mebaamorocco.aero 

© Press Release 2019

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