Cargo Services Research Articles

Analysing group‐ and metatechnology efficiencies and technology gap of airlines for a sustainable future

AbstractAirline performance evaluation, which involves incorporating sustainable concepts, provides stakeholders and managers with an objective basis for decision‐making. This evaluation considers not only conventional metrics but also environmental impacts, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development goals. This study incorporates a two‐stage network of airline operations, which implies that airlines utilise limited resources to meet their service capacity in the first stage and generate passenger and cargo services alongside carbon emissions in the second stage. The study proposes a union dynamic network data envelopment analysis model, which integrates group technology and meta‐technology into a unified model. This model not only solves the unreasonable technology gap ratio problem but also accounts for the technological heterogeneity (whether or not to participate in a strategic alliance) and the dynamic efficiency of different airlines in the network structure during different operation periods. A sample of 24 global airlines from 2017 to 2019 is used in the study. The empirical results show that the dynamic total meta‐efficiency of the alliance group is significantly greater than that of the nonalliance group over the 3 years. This suggests that joining a strategic alliance has a positive effect on airlines' operational efficiency while reinforcing their commitment to sustainability initiatives.

Competition in cargo and passenger between high-speed rail and airlines—considering the vertical structure of transportation

High-speed rail (HSR) services are experiencing rapid global expansion, posing competition not only in the traditional passenger sector but also challenging air cargo with their attributes of speed and punctuality. In this study, we establish a straightforward model for air-HSR competition in both passenger and cargo markets, taking into account the vertical structure of transportation supply chain. We explore various market equilibria based on the combination of three factors: 1) HSR's provision of cargo services, 2) the integration or separation of HSR's ownership and operation, and 3) uniform or differentiated airport administrative fees for passenger and cargo airlines. The analytical results of our model indicate that the entry of HSR into the cargo market consistently enhances social welfare and may even improve the profit of cargo airlines. However, if airports adopt uniform pricing or there is vertical separation in HSR sector, this could potentially weaken the positive impact on welfare enhancement. These findings have important implications for transportation policy, highlighting how strategic management of infrastructure can significantly influence the effectiveness and societal benefits of HSR's expansion into cargo services.

Analyzing the impact of bicycle geometry and cargo loading on the rideability and safety of cargo bikes: An investigative study

IntroductionElectric cargo bikes have become popular for transporting goods and people due to their small size and strong carrying capacity. However, the way they perform, handle, and operate safely can be affected by the weight of the cargo, where it is placed on the bike, and the bike's design. MethodThis paper analyzes the rideability and safety of eight different cargo bikes representing three different design categories, Retrofitted, Long-john, and Long-tail bikes, also considering three different cargo loading locations. We quantitatively examined the rideability by computing the minimum speed for self-stability, the maximum possible acceleration and deceleration without losing wheel-ground contact, the handlebar torque for steady-state turning, and the force required to overcome obstacles. The effect of using powerful motorized wheels has also been discussed. ResultsLong-john cargo bikes are unstable for lightweight cargo loads, more sensitive to cargo loads, and therefore may not be suitable for riding in narrow, crowded spaces like footpaths. Moreover, retrofitted cargo bikes should only be used to carry lightweight cargo as a combination of heavy cargo load and a powerful rear wheel motor poses a potential risk of accidents. Long-tail cargo bikes are less affected by changes to the cargo load and are thus safer than retrofitted bikes. Their relatively compact length also makes for a smaller turning radius. ConclusionRideability and safe handling of the cargo bikes strongly depend on the bike design and load and loading position. Retrofitted bikes are not suitable for carrying heavy loads and any load at the front has an adverse effect on the overall rideability and safety. Practical applicationThe results highlight the benefits and limitations of different cargo bike designs and, therefore, could have implications for the cargo bike manufacturers, service providers, and policymakers.

Effective organization of acceleration of local train movement at railway transport departments

In the mentioned article, an analysis was conducted on the delay in providing services to local wagons due to the distance of up to 200 km between the sections located in the “UTY” joint-stock company. In this regard, works to improve the schedule of local trains have been carried out by extending the distance between two technical stations to 600-800 km. As a result of analyzing the options for transporting local wagons to technical stations in this article, movement schemes for local trains have been developed. The proposed schemes specify the movement of local trains from the initial station to the final station within the sections, as well as determining the movement from the initial station to halfway through the section. Through these schemes, operations carried out at intermediate and freight stations between two section stations in a mathematical manner have been investigated. These operations include operations such as coupling, uncoupling, and providing technical and cargo services to the wagons within the movement composition. In providing services to local trains on the section, two options were analyzed to obtain results: with the help of the second scheme we developed, during the movement of each train within the section, a possibility of saving 16 minutes of time was created.

Cargo Company Recommendation Study Based on Probabilistic Linguistic Term Set

The global economic structure is the main reason for changes in consumption habits and consumer behavior. Developing information technologies direct producers and consumers to e-commerce. Cargo services are an important link in the chain in the fast and effective operation of e-commerce. The growth in e-commerce has a driving force in the development of cargo services and cargo companies. Cargo companies can survive in global competition by being preferred by customers and increasing their number of customers. The change in the number of customers occurs by communicating the satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the cargo company to potential customers. This study deals with the preference levels of cargo companies serving in Turkey according to customer suggestions. The data obtained from the survey evaluations are processed and recommendation ranking calculations are made for cargo companies. Probabilistic Linguistic Term Sets (PLTS) are used to eliminate customer ambiguities in survey evaluations. Alternative cargo company recommendations are ranked based on the customers' past service experiences from cargo companies. Aras Cargo, MNG Cargo, PTT Cargo, Surat Cargo, UPS Cargo, Yurtiçi Cargo companies are evaluated according to price, personnel, speed, reliability and network qualities. The maximum deviation optimization method based on the Lagrangian function is used to calculate the weights of the cargo companies' attributes. The probabilistic linguistic cosine similarity method compares cargo companies pairwise under attributes and a similarity matrix is obtained for six cargo companies. The similarity matrix defines the alternative cargo company recommendation ranking based on customers' past experiences.

Cracking the conundrum of e-cargo logistics: curious case of LoadExx

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this case study are to understand the business model canvas and value propositions and apply advanced business innovation tools in electric vehicle business models; evaluate the current cargo vehicle scenarios at national and global levels and draw out the possibilities and costs for a new player; extrapolate the future scenario of the cargo economy, its electrification and positioning in a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) segment, especially for a developing economy; and improve the student’s ability to get organisational buy-in and execute new business models. Case overview/synopsis LoadExx is a fully electrified electric cargo service focusing on logistics in Kolkata, a metropolitan city in the eastern part of the country. The service of LoadExx commenced in January 2021 in the B2B segment after overcoming its then issues of driver hesitancy and customer anxiety and financial issues to adopt electrified cargo systems. The conundrum faced by LoadExx in its commencement thus had been solved under the able guidance of its owner Amit Arora. The case study was positioned four months after the commencement of LoadExx. To gain market power and traction, Arora and his team came up with the idea of market expansion. However, the current conundrum was whether LoadExx would enter the B2C segment in its current location or expand with the same business model to other parts of the country. The expansion was to be implemented in the immediate future to retain its rarity and reduce the imitability of the business model of LoadExx. This case study details the logistics and market operations of the cargo sector, especially electric cargo, in a developing economy, especially India. A teaching note supplementing the “Cracking the conundrum of e-cargo logistics: curious case of LoadExx” case study has been provided. Complexity academic level This case study is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students and senior management professionals in executive education programmes undertaking courses in logistics management and supply chain operations and related cargo logistics courses. This case study denotes integrating key processes from end-users and gaining the trust of drivers, thereby showing the perspective of the plight and conundrums of a cargo aggregator working in the B2C segment. This case study could be used to discuss concepts related to not-for-profit firms, aggregators, policymakers and think tanks. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 9: Operations and logistics.

Analysis of Facility Maintenance at General Ahmad Yani International Airport Cargo Terminal Semarang

Cargo terminal maintenance is one of the responsibilities of PT. Angkasa Pura Logistics. PT. Angkasa Pura Logistics is a company engaged in land, sea and air transportation management services as well as cargo and postal inspection. The purpose of the study was to determine the maintenance of SOP cargo terminal facilities owned by PT. Angkasa Pura Logistics is used as a guideline for officials/technicians in carrying out facility maintenance. General Ahmad Yani International Airport cargo terminal Semarang. This study uses a type of qualitative research. The data used in this research are primary data and secondary data. Primary data obtained by conducting observations and interviews, secondary data obtained through documentation. Data analysis in this study used a qualitative descriptive method with the Miles and Huberman model, namely reducing data, presenting data, and drawing conclusions/verification. To test the validity of the data the author uses the triangulation method. The results showed that the condition of the facilities in the Terminal was in good condition. Systematic maintenance of facilities at the Cargo Terminal is carried out according to the procedures and schedules that have been made. the duties and roles of the cargo service supervisor in carrying out their performance, namely overseeing several new facility conditions every day which later if damage occurs, it will be reported in the form of weekly recapitulations. There was damage to one of the facilities at the cargo terminal in the cargo terminal courtyard, namely cracks in the floor of the courtyard and loss of marking lines. The solution is to present the results of the report at a conference or coordination meeting with superiors or related institutions and it is necessary to invite or bring in superiors or related institutions to observe directly in the field so that you will find out directly the damage to facilities at the cargo terminal so that it is immediately followed up.

Analisis Kapasitas Terminal Kargo Menurut Peraturan Menteri Perhubungan Nomor Km 29 Tahun 2005 di Bandar Udara El Tari Kupang Nusa Tenggara Timur

The cargo terminal is one of the main service facilities in the airport which aims to smooth the cargo process, for those who go out and in supported by adequate facilities and warehouses as stipulated in the Minister of Transportation Regulation concerning SNI 03-7047-2004 regarding airport cargo terminals so that flights can run smoothly, safely and safely. This study aims to determine the capacity of the cargo terminal and the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at the incoming cargo terminal at PT Angkasa Pura I at El Tari Kupang Airport, East Nusa Tenggara. This type of research is mix method. To obtain the results of this study using interview, observation and documentation methods conducted during the research. After obtaining the necessary data, the researcher will process the data into a discussion and make conclusions and suggestions. Based on the results of the research obtained by the researcher that the cargo terminal warehouse at El Tari Kupang airport is inadequate where the amount of incoming cargo production is greater than the capacity of the existing cargo warehouse especially during peak hours from the calculations that have been carried out, the cargo terminal warehouse at El Tari Kupang airport has met the standard guidelines stated in the Minister of Transportation Regulation No KM 29 of 2005. Although it has been found that the cargo terminal has met the applicable standards, the cargo terminal at El Tari Kupang airport still cannot accommodate cargo goods that arrive in large quantities resulting in overload in the incoming cargo warehouse. This can be influenced by several factors, namely high demand, errors in planning and lack of supporting facilities. In handling incoming cargo, the application of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at the incoming cargo terminal has been carried out in accordance with the applicable domestic cargo and postal service quality procedures.
 Keywords: Capacity, Cargo Terminal, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

ANALISIS KUALITAS PELAYANAN TERHADAP KEPUASAN DAN LOYALITAS PENGGUNA JASA KARGO DI BANDARA INTERNASIONAL I GUSTI NGURAH RAI

This study aims to determine the effect of service quality on the satisfaction and loyalty of cargo service users at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method. The number of samples in this study was 125 respondents. The respondents in this study were users of cargo services at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. Determination of the sample using accidental sampling technique is a technique of determining the sample by taking respondents who happen to be available or available somewhere according to the research context. Data collection techniques by giving questionnaires to respondents, observation, and documentation. Meanwhile, to analyze the data, the Normality, Heterodicity, Linearity, Simple Regression, and t-tests were carried out using the SPSS 22.00 program. The research results show that: 1) The quality of cargo services is in the high category of 75.2%, the moderately high category is 24.8%, the moderately low category is 0% and the low category is 0%. Satisfaction of cargo service users is in the high category of 96.0%, quite high category of 4.0%, moderately low category of 0%, and low category of 0%. The loyalty of cargo service users is in the high category of 76.0%, quite a high category of 23.2%, moderately low category of 0.8%, and low category of 0%. 2) There is an effect of the quality of cargo services on the satisfaction of cargo service users as shown by the results of the t-test where the probability value (sig.) is 0.00 so that the value is less than the standard error value which is 0.05. 3) There is an effect of the quality of cargo services on the loyalty of cargo service users as shown by the results of the t-test where the probability value (sig.) is 0.016 so the value is less than the standard error value which is 0.05.

Role of Cargo Owner in Logistic Chain Sustainability

Understanding the factors and characteristics of the business and the influence of cargo owners on sustainable practices in maritime logistics chains is the main objective of this study. The sample consists of 141 valid responses from Portuguese companies that own cargo, freight forwarders and other maritime logistics service providers. Sustainable energy theory, green state theory, and shared value creation theory support the research. The SEM methodology was adopted. The sector’s structure, management characteristics, type of transport contract and the size of the cargo characterize and condition the business of cargo owners and influence the choice of green transport, the use of green fuel and corporate social responsibility. It is important to increase the knowledge and practice of cargo owners in order to understand their business constraints.

Demand analysis in urban air mobility: A literature review

Urban air mobility (UAM) is a novel concept that is revolutionizing urban transportation. This transformation is largely due to the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, which have made UAM a reality in the urban region. The success of this emerging mode of transportation is largely dependent on market demand. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on demand analysis for UAM. To address this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of the recently published literature on demand analysis for UAM. We firstly identified the demand for UAM in various types of on-demand applications, including passenger services, cargo services, and other services. Secondly, we discussed and identified the factors that influence the market demand in UAM, such as time, cost, distance, congestion, safety, privacy, and noise. Additionally, we examined the existing qualitative and quantitative methods for demand analysis in UAM. We found that the most common techniques include stated-preference surveys, discrete choice models, and clustering algorithms. We further discussed the role of market demand in the UAM life cycle, highlighting the potential impacts of demand on the development, implementation, and regulation of UAM systems. Finally, we concluded our review by highlighting several opportunities for future research related to demand analysis for UAM, and these include feasibility of air shuttle services, potential cargo applications, public acceptance, infrastructure placement, integration with existing transportation, and novel demand estimation methods, while addressing various aspects of UAM life cycle, including vehicle technology, infrastructure, airspace, and operation management.

Sea&Air 환적화물 인천항 유치 요인의 중요도 분석 연구

CBEC(Cross Border E-Commerce) is a market that is expected to grow at a statistically high annual growth rate of about 28.4% and should be noted in Incheon Port, which is trying to grow into an e-commerce-specific port. In particular, in the case of international e-commerce volume from China, it is necessary to attract volume that can be converted into Sea&Air complex transportation around Incheon Port, which departs from major airports in China, transshipment from Incheon Airport, and exports to North America and Europe.Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the factors of transshipment port selection to revitalize the attraction of CBEC Sea & Air complex transport cargo. Accordingly, AHP analysis by academic and industrial expert surveys showed that cargo creation capacity (0.287), port infrastructure (0.257), service (0.230), and Sea&Air transshipment cost (0.227) were identified as high net importance (0.227), Sea&Air throughput (0.115), and e-commerce (0.106). In addition, in the evaluation of the attractiveness of three ports in the West Sea region, including Incheon Port, Incheon Port (3.084), Pyeongtaek Port (2.353), and Gunsan Port (1.840) were derived in the order, In particular, Incheon Port should promote CBEC Sea&Air based on its differentiated competitiveness compared to Pyeongtaek Port and Gunsan Port in terms of Sea&Air transshipment costs and cargo creation capabilities.

Research on Diversification Strategies of Terminal Operators—Evidence from Polish Seaports

In response to changes taking place in the global environment, seaport terminal operators constantly search for lines of development in their operations, choosing i.a. a strategy of diversification or specialisation. So far, the issue of applying a diversification strategy in business models used by operators of multipurpose terminals has not been sufficiently addressed in the literature on the subject. In view of the above, the purpose of this paper is to identify and hierarchize the motivations for diversification and to specify the areas of diversification strategies and corresponding measures taken by operators of multipurpose terminals. The multi-case-study method was applied to conduct the research, along with the research technique of semi-structured in-depth interviews held with representatives of five terminal operators that had been running their business activity in Polish seaports and applying a diversification strategy. As a result of the completed research study, it was possible to specify the motivations for implementing a diversification strategy, and to hierarchize them. The main motives in selecting a diversification strategy as the main business strategy among the interviewed terminal operators were safeguarding against seasonal or sporadic business cycle fluctuations, and changes taking place in maritime trade and transport. Moreover, four areas of diversification strategies pursued by the terminal operators were identified: cargo diversification, contract diversification, services diversification, and cargo flow direction diversification. The diversification measures taken by the terminal operators in the specified areas were analysed in detail. The most important areas of the diversification measures in the studied entities were cargo diversification and services diversification. A heat map was developed to present the dependencies between the motivations for diversification and the areas of diversification strategies implemented by the terminal operators. The identified specific measures taken by the terminal operators as part of the indicated diversification areas included technical and organisational measures. The diversification strategy developed by terminal operators proved to be an effective strategy in coping with the effects of economic slowdown and disruptions ensuing from the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. The results of the considerations may be of interest to seaports, transshipment terminals or other entities interested in implementation of a business activity diversification strategy.

Analysis and Forecasting of International Airport Traffic Volume

Globalization has resulted in increases in air transportation demand and air passenger traffic. With the increases in air traffic, airports face challenges related to infrastructure, air services, and future development. Air traffic forecasting is essential to ensuring appropriate investment in airports. In this study, we combined fuzzy theory with support vector regression (SVR) to develop a fuzzy SVR (FSVR) model for forecasting international airport traffic. This model was used to predict the air traffic volumes at the world’s 10 busiest airports in terms of air traffic in 2018. The predictions were made for the period from August 2014 to December 2019. For fuzzy time series, the developed FSVR model can consider historical air traffic changes. The FSVR model can suitably divide air traffic changes into appropriate fuzzy sets, generate membership function values, and establish fuzzy relations to produce fuzzy interpolated values with minimal errors. Thus, in the prediction of continuous data, the fuzzy data with the smallest errors can be subjected to SVR to find the optimal hyperplane model with the minimum distance to the appropriate support vector sample points. The performance of the proposed model was compared with those of five other models. Of the compared models, the FSVR model exhibited the lowest mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error, and root mean square error for all types of traffic at all of the airports analyzed; all of the MAPE values were below 2.5. The FSVR model can predict future growth trends in air traffic, air passenger flows, aircraft flows, and logistics. An airport authority can use this model to analyze the existing operational facilities and service capacity, find bottlenecks in airport operations, and create a blueprint for future development. The findings revealed that implementing a hybrid modeling approach, specifically the FSVR model, can significantly enhance the performance of the SVR model. The FSVR model allows airlines to predict traffic growth patterns, identify viable new destinations, optimize their schedules or fleet, make accurate marketing decisions, and plan traffic effectively. The FSVR model can guide the timely construction of appropriate airport facilities with accurate predictions. Rapid, cost-effective, efficient, and balanced transportation planning enables the provision of fast, cost-effective, comfortable, safe, and convenient passenger and cargo services while ensuring the proper planning of the airport’s capacity for land-side transportation connections.

Econometric analysis of the determinants of air cargo services supply in Latin America and the Caribbean

This paper examines econometrically the determinants of air cargo supply in the countries of Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) using city-pair data for 2011–2020. We find that air cargo supply tends to be concentrated in airports located in highly populated cities. The relationship between income and air cargo supply is more complex although its positive effect seems to be more consistent for dedicated cargo flights. In addition, we only find a negative relationship between distance and air cargo supply when we focus on belly cargo. Low-cost airlines spur cargo in passenger flights buy they do not have any positive role in dedicated cargo flights. Free trade agreements seem to contribute positively to a greater supply of air cargo, but this effect is concentrated on belly cargo and intra-regional routes. In contrast, the quality of the infrastructure at the airport of origin positively impacts air cargo supply only on dedicated flights and extra-regional routes. Finally, we do find evidence that a more intense competition between airlines and the greater use of wide-body aircraft have a positive effect on cargo supply.

Bunkering and information decisions in the sea cargo service industry based on uncertain spot price

AbstractThe pursuit of lower costs and the volatility of spot prices force shipping companies to sign fuel supply contracts with suppliers in advance. Meanwhile, suppliers that take on price risks typically seek further information on spot market prices. Furthermore, they need to consider whether to share the information with shipping companies as such information can affect shipping companies' decision on speed and, hence, their fuel consumption and shipper business. To study the refueling and information issues of the shipping supply chain, we describe a game between a shipping company and a supplier on the basis of a fuel supply contract. Results show that compared with the case without information sharing, the case with information sharing with a possibly lower spot price can bring higher profits for the shipping company and supplier. At this point, the shipping company will increase its navigation speed and benefit from the resulting increase in shipper business. Meanwhile, the supplier can benefit from the shipping company's increased fuel consumption. The supplier decides to share information with the shipping company before receiving signals only when the prediction accuracy is high, indicating that the supplier's prediction motivation is to sway the shipping company's risk assessment. Restricted by prediction costs, the supplier will not improve the prediction accuracy indefinitely, but such improvement can always benefit the shipping company. Hence, information prediction can be a win‐win strategy for the shipping company and supplier.

Using Multi-Label Classification Methods to Analyze Complaints Against Cargo Services During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Comparing Survey-Based and Word-Based Labeling

This study investigates how cargo companies, with a significant market share in Turkey's service sector, managed their last-mile activities during the Covid-19 outbreak and suggests the solution to the adverse outcomes. The data used in the study included complaints made for cargo companies from an online complaint management website called sikayetvar.com from the start of the pandemic to the date of the research, which contained words related to the pandemic and was collected using Python language and the Scrapy module web scraping methods. Multilabel classification algorithms were used to categorize complaints based on assessments of training data obtained according to the topics. Results showed that parcel delivery-related themes were the most often complained about, and a considerable portion were delay issues.

A Study on the Efficiency Analysis of Airports in Korea

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyze airport efficiency using the DEA methodology as airport activities are an important factor to support economic activities and environmental issues. Design/Methodology/Approach – Based on the DEA methodology, traditional analysis including BCC, CCR, and Super Efficiency analysis have been utilized to analyze the trends of efficiency in economic indexes. The Malmquist Analysis results also show productivity changes before and after COVID-19. This paper conducted research on the efficiency of the Korean airports in operational and environmental aspects. Adopting DEA models, seven variables were selected for analysis. Findings – This paper found that efficient airports are mainly supported by their large business markets, better hinterland connectivity, being a major airport, and effective resource management. Also, comparing the overall productivity of Korean Airports from 2018-2020, it is fair to say that from 2018 to 2019, before COVID-19, internal factors were driving the overall productivity change. Following other airports, Yeosu were successful in enhancing the efficiencies of the internal operation of airports in the 2020 period. It is also notable that, during COVID-19, the level of cargo at Incheon International Airport, and skyrocketed passenger movements at Jeju International Airport affected the level of efficiency. After COVID-19, although internal efficiency was apparently evident as a decisive factor for overall productivity for most airports, some airports (Jeju, Pohang, and Yangyang) focused on external factors such as technology, which was driving the overall productivity change in their operation compared to others in the sample in this study. Research Implications – This study implies that COVID-19effects on global trade have changed the way airports operate, as most airports now focus on and invest in safety instruments as well as cargo support services and auxiliary services. Airports will confront an enormous task in the coming years, and these goals are ideologically compatible with sustainable development goals. Airports are here to endorse sustainable development, as well as facilitate possibilities and connectivity, and the disclosure of ESG business information are the appropriate resource to help expansion and improvement.

A systems approach to developing a port community system for South Africa

Port community systems (PCS), as electronic platforms enabling the intelligent and secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders in ports, are central to port supply chains. PCS drive productivity, efficiencies, and competitiveness whilst improving the port’s attractiveness. They connect port users and supply chain participants and allow them to share information efficiently on a single platform by drawing data from different enterprise resource management systems. Port systems are complex networks of functions integrated to deliver cargo services to port users. Developing countries’ ports have suffered adversely from their slow adoption of PCS; consequently, their performance improvements have stagnated over time. This article uses Soft Systems Methodology and applies it to the case of South Africa’s ports that are particularly affected by the absence of PCS. The article also presents a framework for implementing PCS. Primary data was gathered through 24 interviews and two port stakeholder workshops. The findings show that port users are operating on fragmented and different platforms, lack integration and collaboration, and no single platform is used to share critical shipping information. Nevertheless, the interviewees all supported the creation of a PCS, and this article develops and recommends a framework for implementing a PCS in South Africa.

Identifying requirements for airborne-supplied city hubs

As a result of the globalization, express cargo volume is rising every year. On the one hand, time-critical and highly valuable goods need to be delivered as quickly as possible. On the other hand, cities are facing multiple problems regarding their transportation system, such as increasing congestion on the roads, and air pollution. To serve the demand of express parcels and at the same time oppose these emerging challenges, an airborne “green” supply chain with low-emission vehicles can be a solution. This paper outlines the conceptual requirements of an airborne-supplied city hub that are related to urban integration, road traffic access and flight operations. First, we identified existing city hub and drone concepts in the literature. The findings were organized into a process chain. A concept for an airborne-supplied city hub was developed where the city hub serves as a transshipment center in the supply chain. For this specific research framework and the legal situation in Germany, we examined a list of mandatory and favorable requirements that may serve as a guideline for developers and providers of this new type of airborne express cargo services.