Avianca Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel have been jointly awarded the Cargo iQ Quality Rally for joint efforts in continuous improvement. The competition this year was held in Frankfurt, Germany, bringing together industry participants with initiatives to address operational challenges and improve processes across the air cargo industry.
The winning project showed the importance of regular performance reviews to identify operational weaknesses and translate those findings into concrete actions. The two companies will merge performance monitoring with coordinated improvement measures to increase operational efficiency and provide a more reliable service to customers.
Milestone coverage and operational performance
The methodology developed by Kuehne+Nagel and Avianca Cargo is based on two key elements of the Cargo iQ standard, coverage and performance.
Coverage measures whether messages reporting each operational milestone are sent as required. Performance, in contrast, is a measure of how well those milestones are hit on time. Taking a look at both dimensions provides a more complete picture of how a shipment is progressing and helps you spot processes that need more attention.
To implement this approach, the companies also carry out regular reviews, reconcile their data and monitor improvement initiatives. The process is underpinned by digital instruments, trend analysis and standardized operating procedures, enabling teams to investigate the causes of deviations, define clear responsibilities and implement corrective measures.
The goal is to ensure performance monitoring leads to measurable improvements rather than being an exercise in reporting.
Becoming more reliable to improve customer service
Shippers and freight forwarders require accurate and timely information about their shipments to properly plan transport operations and manage potential disruptions. And monitoring whether operational milestones are being met adds transparency and allows customers to judge how reliable an airline is in choosing a carrier to transport their goods.
“The partnership with Kuehne+Nagel allows both companies to spot opportunities for increased efficiency and coordinate the necessary actions to tackle them,” said Diogo Elias, CEO of Avianca Cargo.
“We want every improvement in our operation to result in better service to our customers. “Working with Kuehne+Nagel we can see where we can be more efficient and take coordinated action to achieve that.” “This recognition motivates us to keep improving our operational reliability and the quality of the information we provide, so that our customers can plan and decide with more confidence,” Elias said.
This approach directly links operational improvements to customer results by focusing on reliable processes and more dependable information throughout the shipment journey.
Three criteria behind the jury’s decision
The joint initiative distinguished itself across the three criteria considered by the Cargo iQ Quality Rally jury. These included the quality of the presentation, the clarity with which the teams communicated their lessons learned, and the relevance of the improvement itself.
The jury also assessed the initiative’s potential impact across the wider industry and whether its proposed measures could realistically be implemented.
Congratulating the winning teams, Marie Seco-Koeppen, Executive Director of Cargo iQ, emphasized the importance of putting industry standards into practice.
“Congratulations to the Avianca and Kuehne+Nagel teams for winning the Frankfurt Round! Their results shows that the value of a standard lies not in defining it, but in using it in a disciplined manner,” Seco-Koeppen said.
The recognition underscores the importance of consistent implementation and practical application in turning shared standards into operational improvements.
Supporting Kuehne+Nagel’s global data quality goals
The initiative is also part of Kuehne+Nagel’s Global Partnership Agreement (GPA) and more specifically its Data Quality Program. Through the partnership, both companies are deepening their global relationship, while working toward the standards expected of Kuehne+Nagel’s global airline partners.
“The award reflects the strength of the partnership as well as the companies’ shared commitment to continuous improvement,” said Holger Ketz, Kuehne+Nagel’s Global Head of Air Logistics Network & Carrier Management.
“This recognition demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Avianca Cargo and our shared commitment to continuous improvement. “Through our Preferred Partner Program, we collaborate closely to improve data quality, operational performance and shipment visibility, helping us to deliver a more reliable experience for customers and drive up standards across the air cargo industry,” Ketz said.
The companies want to enhance the visibility of shipments and improve the coordination of their air cargo activities by integrating data quality initiatives with operational performance monitoring.
Making performance monitoring part of continuous improvement
The Cargo iQ Quality Rally award celebrates a collaborative approach where performance data is the basis for continuous operational improvements. Regular reviews, joint analysis and targeted corrective actions should make the processes of Avianca Cargo and Kuehne+Nagel more efficient and the shipment information more reliable.
Their work also shows how cooperation between airlines and logistics providers can lead to improved coordination, more reliable service, and higher operational standards in the air cargo industry.
