Dnata Cargo is making a bar-coded label on every export shipment mandatory from July 1. This follows the introduction
of hand-held terminals, which will scan all shipments as they arrive at the
main cargo terminal in the Dubai Air Cargo Village.
Exporters and agents who do not have their own barcode printers can make use
of Dnata's on the-spot barcode printing service.
The hand-held terminals are battery-powered, portable,
tele-transaction computers from the Telxon Corporation in the USA, which can be comfortably
carried on a strap. They transmit information from one point to another
through radio frequencies and can "talk" to the terminal's main computer.
As a result they provide enormous benefits: real time information transfer;
transparency of operation; reduction of the use of paper, time-savings and a
considerable further reduction of human errors.
The hand-helds are also fitted with a scanner, which enables them to
recognise, read and discriminate between six barcode types. The mandatory
bar-coded labels will ensure that the full benefits of the hand-helds are
gained.
Dnata Cargo first successfully introduced hand helds in the Emirates Cargo
Centre, which opened in February 2001. Now, the company is introducing them
progressively in the main cargo terminal, thanks to the installation of
radio frequency equipment across the airport by the Department of Civil
Aviation. The several leading carriers, whom (similar to Emirates Cargo)
have already made barcoding of their export shipments a mandatory
requirement, are welcoming this enhancement. These carriers will now be
able to achieve real time tracking benefits for all their export shipments
through the Main Cargo Terminal of Dubai.
Jean-Pierre de Pauw, Senior General Manager Dnata Cargo, said: "Antennas
have been commissioned to cover the 25,000-square-metre facility, enabling
full radio frequency coverage of all the operational areas including ramp,
loading docks as well as the sea-air yard. We are introducing
hand-helds first in the export acceptance process. As more staff members are trained
and gain experience with this equipment, more processes will be covered."
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