PACTL Upgrades to Latest Hermes Cargo Management System with Minimal Downtime

Shanghai Pudong International Airport Cargo Terminal Co., Ltd (PACTL), one of the largest single air cargo terminal operators worldwide, has successfully rolled out Hermes 5 at four cargo terminals—three in PVG and one in SHA.

Hermes Logistics Technologies (HLT) completed the upgrade within a short window, meaning minimal downtime for PACTL. The air cargo operator handles up to two million tonnes of cargo per year in its multiple terminal system and continued to function with little effect on its operation.

“This was an upgrade, but on a massive scale that required comprehensive discovery work and preparation to ensure the switchover was both simultaneous and short, and downtime was reduced as much as possible,” said Yuval Baruch, chief executive officer of Hermes Logistics Technologies. 

“A key element of the project was the integration of Hermes 5 with other technology partners working with PACTL, through our standard and bespoke APIs. These enable full integration with other solutions, so data can be shared and operational efficiencies gained.” 

PACTL’s large-scale upgrade involved a comprehensive gap analysis, database optimisation, and training delivered in Chinese through the Hermes Learning Management System (LMS).

“This upgrade has opened the door for us to provide customised services while also improving operational convenience. The partnership with HLT enhances our operational efficiency and ensures we stay at the forefront of technological advancements in the air cargo industry,” said Carsten Hernig, deputy general manager VP sales and marketing and production.

“Hermes 5 offers Cargo iQ messaging services such as FOW and FIW, and we have opted for a localised deployment to maximise data security.” 

PACTL is the latest in a series of cargo handlers to implement or upgrade to HLT’s latest, function-rich CMS, Hermes 5, in 2024. Hermes 5, typically implemented in the Cloud, is surrounded by the Hermes Ecosystem, a suite of SaaS solutions available on a pay-as-you-go basis. These include APIs, Business Intelligence, and Track and Trace. 

APIs (Application Programming Interface) are required to link different software systems and enable seamless communication and data exchange between them.