SriLankan Airlines has signed up for SkyChain, the end to end cargo reservation and business management solution offered by Mercator, a Dubai-based business technology provider.

A unit of the Emirates Group, the Mercator plans to complete implementation by the second quarter of 2009. The solution, wholly developed by Mercator in Dubai, has been designed to manage every aspect of an airline’s cargo business.
 
’The timing of this partnership is significant – coming as it does when skyrocketing fuel prices are having a tremendous economic impact on the airline industry,’ said Patrick Naef, head of Mercator.

’This partnership clearly demonstrates that major players have confidence in our IT solutions to reduce costs and increase revenue,’ he noted.
 
“SkyChain has been built for the air cargo business of today and the changing dynamics of the foreseeable future. We are confident SkyChain will have a significant and positive impact on our customers’ financial bottom line and make waves in the air cargo industry,” he added.
 
The solution will be hosted out of Mercator’s data centres in Dubai and used by authorised SriLankan cargo users out of Colombo and other outstation cargo offices globally.

Using the latest Java technology, it transforms information into a powerful asset with data fully utilised to maximise performance, raise service quality and optimise resources.

Processes are streamlined and enhanced and the latest industry developments, such as IATA’s e-freight initiative, are fully supported.
 
Johann Wijesinghe, head of Worldwide Cargo, SriLankan Airlines, said, ’SriLankan Cargo is recognised today as one of the most energetic, technologically-advanced and cost efficient freight operators in South Asia.’
 
’In our business, timing is everything. This is why we are working with Mercator, which has a proven track record for development, implementation and innovation, to fulfill an ever-increasing list of customer demands,’ he pointed out.
 
’SriLankan SkyChain will provide an integrated network of information and support services enabling our customers, no matter where they are, to always have a world of cargo services literally at their fingertips,’ Wijesinghe added.
 
The other customers for Mercator’s SkyChain include Swiss World Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo and Midex.-TradeArabia News Service