AF KLM Cargo and DHL team up on pharma shipment visibility

DHL Global Forwarding and Air France KLM Martinair (AFKLMP) Cargo have connected their systems to improve the visibility of pharma shipments.

The joint solution is based on a host-to-host connection through an application-programming interface that allows information sharing about the shipment journey, including all shipments’ important milestones and temperature checks for active containers.

Currently, this service is provided at AFKLMP’s largest life sciences hubs at Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris CDG airports. Based on this first proof of concept, the two companies have agreed to extend the roll out of active container temperature readings to all the main pharma network points.

Nina Heinz, global head of network & quality, at DHL Global Forwarding, said: “When securing product integrity and patient safety in the supply chain, data transparency is key.

“Taking a partnership approach to automating shipment data sharing for cargo characteristics like container temperatures is an essential step to providing our customers with peace of mind about how their shipments are being moved across the globe.”

AFKLMP’s global head of pharmaceutical logistics Enrica Calonghi added: “This is an important milestone and yet another example of our strong innovative ambition.

“Within pharmaceutical logistics, we aim to create transparency and visibility in each step of the cold chain. It is the next stage in the digitization of our industry.”

This facilitates both higher standards for reliability and real-time updates of product temperature in the cold chain while it is transported in special climate-controlled containers.