GOING PAPERLESS

Paperwork plays an important role in our industry but paper documents can get lost, handling them takes valuable time and they leave an ecological footprint. Therefore, the Cargo industry has to switch over to digital by getting rid of the paper and by proceeding with Electronic Data Interchange messaging.

More accurate and more reliable electronic messaging

Lower cost, the entire industry can save 4.9 billions US dollars per year

Environmentally friendly, e- Freight will eliminate more than 7,800 tons of paper documents

e-Freight

E-freight is the dematerialization and the digitalization of all the transports documents of shipment. The purpose is to set up an end-to-end paperless process for the whole supply chain industry. Paper documents are replaced by electronic messages (FWB for Master Airway Bill, FHL for House Airway Bill, invoices...) This e-freight project is supported by IATA and by all players in the Air Freight industry.

E-AWB Activation

The e-AWB refers to a transportation contract between a shipper/forwarder and an airline. With the e-AWB, there is no longer a need to print, handle or archive a paper AWB." The contract obtains its legal status by an electronic combination of:

The FWB message sent by the forwarder to the airline;
The FSU/RCS message sent in return by the airline to the forwarder.

What are the benefits?

Faster supply chain

Faster supply chain transit times: the ability to send electronic document before the cargo itself can reduce the industry cycle times.

Cost savings

Lower costs: the total Airfreight Industry can save up US $ 4.9 billion per year.

Greater accuracy

Greater accuracy: allowing electronic data entry at point of origin until RCS reduces delays to shipments due to inaccurate or inconsistent data entry.

Increased security

Increased security: electronic documents are only made available to parties who require them for the completion of a shipment.

Regulatory compliance

E-freight meets all international and local regulations relating to provision of electronic documents and data required by customs, civil aviation and other regulatory authorities.

Environment friendly

E-freight meets all international and local regulations relating to provision of electronic documents and data required by customs, civil aviation and other regulatory authorities.

Action Roadmap To Going Paperless

Step 1 : Join the IATA Multilateral e-AWB Agreement.

Step 2 : Transmit electronic Airway Bill/ House Airway Bill data

Step 3 : Receive the activation notice from AFKLM

Step 4 : From now, send your FWB/FHL messages

Show me more information about the roadmap

e-Fast

e-Fast delivery is the fastest way of delivering export freight at our hub in Amsterdam. To make this possible, transporters use the web-based application eLink from Cargonaut for the digital pre-announcement of freight. They send their FWB to eLink, which can execute Aviation security and customs checks in the background. The transporter sends their FWB in combination with the eLink trip information to the handler. By doing this digitally in advance, it enables transporters to skip the documentation office completely and getting a priority treatment at the warehouse in case of Electronic Airwaybill without pouch (EAW). In case of Electronic Airwaybill with pouch (EAP), the transporter has priority at the documentation office as well as at the warehouse. See the picture below for a processflow.

As described above, there are two e-Fast flows, namely EAW and EAP. Each flow has its own product categories that are included, some products are also excluded from the e-Fast service:

EAW: general cargo, express, fresh
EAP: pharma, dangerous goods
Excluded: live animals, human remains, safe, mail

Go Digital!

By not going digital, your documents always have to be manually checked by the documentation staff. By using electronic data interchange most of the data validation checks, are done before your driver takes off to the KLM warehouse. These include booking checks, security checks and customs checks. This allows the e-Fast transporter to skip the lines at the documentation office and at our export warehouse. We hope to see more of our customers to join the e-Fast service as we are striving to a paperless cargo supply chain.

How to start with e-Fast?

1. Join the IATA Multilateral e-AWB Agreement. (click here to join)
2. Fill in the EDI form on our website & transmit electronic Airway Bill/ House Airway Bill data. (Send your FWB to mail.efreight@airfrance.fr)
3. Receive the activation notice from AFKLM (when the FWB meets our standard, the activation notice is send)
4. Register at Cargonaut for e-link (e-link is used to send your e-AWB)