Mercator’s Chameleon To Transform Cargo Ground Handling At Emirates Group

Mercator, the Dubai-based IT division of the Emirates Group, today unveils Chameleon, its revolutionary new generation cargo ground-handling system.

Chameleon is designed to transform the way cargo is handled throughout the freight and supply chain, and will spearhead a radical overhaul of the Group’s cargo systems.

Chameleon takes care of the entire management and monitoring of cargo consignments, from the moment a shipment is delivered to the airline or its ground handler right through to delivery at the destination airport.

Chameleon has been created by IBS, Mercator’s development centre in India, to support different levels of ground-handling mechanisation and processes, ranging from manual operations to fully automated warehousing. 

Chameleon will go into operation from the end of 2003 at DNATA Cargo, the Dubai International Airport cargo ground-handler, and across Emirates SkyCargo’s global network.

Jean Pierre De Pauw, DNATA Senior General Manager Cargo, and driving force behind Chameleon, said: “This innovative system will revolutionise cargo management at DNATA, and change the way we work -- for good.

“It harnesses the very latest technology to streamline our operation, using the  most accurate and powerful management information systems. We will be able tooffer customers an unrivalled service and enhance Dubai’s role as a major global cargo hub.”

Chameleon will dramatically improve service standards throughout the cargo business, and ensure the effortless distribution of information at the Dubai hub, at Emirates SkyCargo outstations and to all its customers via SkyChain, its web-based logistics management system.

Ram Menen, Director Cargo for Emirates, said: “Chameleon is very much part of our long term vision for SkyChain. As well as maintaining our current business and helping it grow, it will allow us to improve services to customers still further, both at home and network-wide.

“SkyChain and Chameleon will improve our supply chain management by effective monitoring and control of our global ground handling operation. A better flow of information to customers and partners will enable us to serve them even better.”

Hugh Pride, Emirates’ Director IT, said: “We are investing significantly in Chameleon and other new cargo initiatives in years to come to provide effective support for the ambitious growth plans of Emirates and Dubai International Airport.

“Chameleon marks a big step towards an air cargo product portfolio which rivals the best in the world, and will prove to be a winner for the entire air cargo industry.”

Many top world airlines are Mercator customers, including British Airways, Qantas, Air New Zealand, SriLankan, Philippine Airlines, Royal Brunei, Olympic Airways and Varig.