Delivering charter handling excellence to support global crisis relief

The COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented impact on global health as well as trade and economy left more than 200 countries and regions of the world grappling with manifold challenges.

Staying true to its reputation as a customer-focused logistics services provider, ECU Worldwide went out of its way to support customers in these trying times. Creating synergies across its global network, leveraging technology, and customizing the solution based on what the customer needed, ECU Worldwide partnered a remarkable operation.

During these circumstances, ECU Worldwide carried out charter handling and contributed to the humanitarian initiative of transporting PPE products, production line to combat COVID-19, from China to Poland.

Collaborating for logistics services across a global network

ECU Worldwide offers charter handling as a niche, specialised service offering. And when called on for support during trying times, the team left no stone unturned in making sure that the PPE products for COVID-19 relief reached their destination.

Owing to its global network that operates through more than 300 offices in over 160 countries, ECU Worldwide could rely on the expertise and commitment of its own teams in the origin (China) and destination (Poland). A network that makes such end-to-end coverage possible works out to be a significant advantage to customers who can be assured of efficiencies in their supply chain and completely avoid any duplication of efforts or conflict of interest that may arise while dealing with multiple service providers.

With ECU Worldwide’s teams at Shanghai and Poland collaborating closely, they ensured that everyone involved in the operation worked in tandem and coordinated to transport the cargo shipment safely, securely and in time.

Allcargo and ECU Worldwide teams worked in perfect collaboration

Doing what it takes to keep cargo moving

Kudos to the team members

Operations go on, through the day and night

Taking all the necessary precautions

The Antonov AN-124 aircraft – which is amongst the largest birds to fly

Sharing responsibilities and creating synergies

Since charter handling is different from routine air freight transportation, it calls for a thorough understanding of the requisite regulations, procedures, protocol and professional, supportive working relationships with the numerous authorities involved.

With each cargo transportation assignment being unique by itself, a one-size-fits-all approach is very unlikely to work. Sometimes, there may be ambiguity and it might take a few rounds of discussion to determine the exact role and responsibility of each entity involved.

However, when working with a single large service provider like ECU Worldwide which is a global leader in LCL consolidation, many of these challenges get evened out. This is because the teams, within themselves cooperate and divide responsibilities to eventually deliver the best to customers.

For the charter handling operation from China to Poland, ECU Worldwide’s teams worked through a number of ups and downs. Owing to a slight ambiguity in the purview of operations, there was a series of requirements that, though not in the job scope of a charter operator, needed to be met in order to carry out the transportation. ECU Worldwide offices, destination and origin, went the extra mile and offered all the necessary services to ensure that the COVID-19 relief cargo shipment got to its destination in perfect condition and as scheduled.

To begin with, ECU Worldwide Poland was invited to prepare cargo consolidation at warehouse in Shanghai and Tianjin and arrange cargo handling for charters by their customer. ECU Worldwide Shanghai and Long Sheng Logistics provided a warehouse for receiving cargo on immediate basis, as soon as they received a request from counterpart team in Poland. As the cargo shipment kept arriving, their role also extended to palletization of the cargo and transporting it to the airports. Cargo handling, operations at airports, as well as customs clearance, was handled by specialists in air freight – Allcargo Shanghai.

Since this added responsibility came in at very short notice with very sharp requirements, the ECU Worldwide Poland team and the teams at the origin – ECU Worldwide Shanghai and Allcargo Shanghai – collaborated and partnered to split responsibilities, so each task got dedicated focus it needed, for a quick turnaround and communication flow.

Swift, seamless, digitally-enabled cargo shipment operations

ECU Worldwide Shanghai managed the warehousing, palletization and transportation to the airport.

Allcargo Shanghai led the efforts for customs clearance, coordinating with the charter agent and airport authorities as well as ensuring that the cargo shipment cleared from customs in time, was palletized on specific pallets and loaded onto roller beds to be brought beside the kerbside.

At the destination end, the ECU Worldwide Poland team was up and running with all the support and documentation as needed, to clear the cargo and transport it to its destination. Despite a number of challenges, the team effectively managed operations to keep the business going.

A total of 640 Metric Tonnes of cargo was transported using different aircrafts including the Antonov AN-124 aircraft, which is amongst the largest birds to fly, as well B777s and B787- Dreamliners. Rail and ocean freight services were also provided where needed.

“The success of this operation is proof of our customer-centricity, excellent global network and local expertise in origin and destination countries, that eases the complexities of transporting cargo to and from anywhere in the world”, says Magdalena Bielawska, Managing Director, ECU Worldwide Poland.

What made this possible was that the teams were constantly in touch with each other. Due to the lockdowns and COVID-19 precautionary restrictions, many team members were working from home. However, because they were well-equipped to operate remotely and support customers, there was no hindrance in the operations. ECU Worldwide’s approach of backing up operations, processes and resources with the right digital tools and technology worked really well.

With ECU360, its state-of-the-art online platform launched in some countries, ECU Worldwide continues to empower customers and help them ship with just a click. Be it instant shipping quotes, quick cargo bookings, easy information access, or door-to-door deliver rates for more than 40 countries, there are a host of features that let customers conduct business 24×7 without the need for multiple calls or emails.

Doing everything possible and more for customers

What stands out here is ECU Worldwide’s drive to support a humanitarian initiative and go beyond its purview of duty to help out the customer and get the job done.

Keeping the needs of the customer in focus and coordinating among themselves to come up with feasible, customised solutions is what makes ECU Worldwide a preferred logistics services and cargo transportation partner, be it LCL, FCL, air freight or a number of other value added services across more than 2400 direct trade lanes.

“It’s great that we have been able to successfully complete this project with effortless coordination. It has only paved the way for more such operations, on a much more regular basis. After all, we, at ECU Worldwide are always geared to take on challenges with ingenuity and innovation backed by digital technology”, concludes Vikas Dutta, Asia Pacific Head – FCL, ECU Worldwide