Dangerous goods, particularly lithium batteries, are being transported by air more than ever. The rise of e-commerce means that shipments containing lithium batteries can come from thousands of businesses not used to aviation protocols.
These goods must be safe, and they must be expedited quickly. For an airline, therefore, the acceptance check for dangerous goods is critical.
DG AutoCheck is a cutting-edge digital solution designed for airlines, ground handlers, and freight forwarders. It streamlines the process of verifying the compliance of the Shipper’s Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD) with all pertinent regulations outlined in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR). By automating this compliance check, DG AutoCheck ensures accuracy, efficiency, and adherence to safety standards.
Importantly, DG AutoCheck was developed in collaboration with airlines, ground handlers, and freight forwarders, so that all stakeholders have confidence in the acceptance process. And through Connect API, DG AutoCheck can automate data transfer to other systems in the industry’s value chain, such as the Notification to Captain (NOTOC). Rather than take up to 100 minutes to give flight crew detailed information on dangerous goods in the payload through the NOTOC, Connect API makes it instantaneous. This upstream extension has been implemented by Air France / KLM, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines, and dnata.
UAE ground service provider, dnata, connects DG AutoCheck with its warehouse management system, powered by IBS Software’s iCargo solution. Future plans include linking DG AutoCheck to operational or accounting systems and cargo management systems.
“We are delighted to deliver this innovation to our customers,” says Guillaume Crozier, dnata’s Chief Cargo Officer. “Connecting iCargo to DG AutoCheck through Connect API will accelerate dangerous goods acceptance checks while enabling the highest level of safety, compliance, and efficiency throughout the handling process. In addition, we will be able to further optimize our operations through the data by our systems working more effi ciently together.”
LATAM Cargo is also an early adopter of DG AutoCheck. Thiago Braz, Miami Cargo Operations Director at LATAM Cargo, says DG AutoCheck helped the airline “to be more sustainable, more connected, and assure the safety of operations.”
DG AutoCheck, in conjunction with Connect API, provides the speed, quality, compliance, and safety benefits of digitalization that air cargo customers are demanding.
