Amsterdam-based consolidator Wholesale By Vels (WBV) recently launched a unique members-only booking platform at Schiphol Airport, which is expected to take airfreight wholesaling to a new level.
The new platform, called CargoPilot, took 2 years to develop and differs from existing online booking portals in two important aspects: first, it is squarely targeted at non-IATA freight agents, using WBV’s own IATA licence and CASS membership.
This means users have direct access to attractive airline rates that are not normally available to them, whilst carriers are relieved of any financial risk as WBV settles all billing on behalf of the booker.
Second, the platform produces live, dynamically priced quotes on a choice of carriers, just as if the agent were IATA-registered and booking direct. The rates are for the next available flights—not deferred, block space agreements—allowing agents to move shipments more quickly, whilst taking full advantage of the (often) lower rates offered for short-notice bookings.
“It makes dynamic prices on IATA carriers available to agents who do not have IATA recognition,” expressed CargoPilot co-founder Rinaldo Vels, who launched Wholesale by Vels in 2020. “That means their cargo moves faster and often more economically than it would using traditional wholesalers.”
CargoPilot offers a range of airport-to-airport, airport-to-door, door-to-airport and door-to-door services available for the next seven days, with rates from 26 major carriers already on the platform and more to be steadily added as data systems integration is completed.
Full quotes are easily and quickly generated through a series of simple, intuitive screens, with previously entered customer data auto-filled to save time. Users can add their required profit margin to the quote, and finalised PDF quotes are then generated. Saved quotes can then be easily converted to bookings, which are sent direct to the airline and any additional selected service provider.
Collection and delivery can also be priced and added to any booking, thanks to an integrated database of airfreight hauliers and rates, whilst additional services such as X-ray screening and insurance can also be included. Once a booking is made, the user has 24/7 online access to real-time tracking information.
CargoPilot is available through monthly membership charges, and WBV said it plans to open further offices in Germany and Italy to offer the product. Looking at extending to other markets, the air freight wholesaler is also creating the CargoPilot Alliance, which will recruit exclusive members to offer its services in their own territories
WBV noted that all shipments being tendered for carriage have been vetted by the company, and therefore fully comply with all aspects of the IATA European Air Cargo Programme (EACP).
“We are keen to talk to any professional airfreight business that is IATA-recognised and CASS-connected, and which will uphold our strict trade-only, best practice model. But we will only accept one member per territory,” Vels emphasised.
