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Virgin Atlantic Cargo is first to adopt Accenture’s new cargo management platform

[ June 7, 2019   //   ]

Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s digital transformation to simplify its business and give customers new self-service solutions will be powered by the implementation of the latest Accenture Freight & Logistics Software 8.0 (AFLS 8.0) platform.

Virgin Atlantic will be the first company to adopt the unique digital capabilities of the latest AFLS 8.0 platform, Accenture’s cloud-enabled, end-to-end cargo management software suite. Developed by Accenture, a leading professional services company, the new platform will replace Virgin’s 10-year-old Voyager operating system when the first phase goes live in early 2020. This investment goes beyond a traditional cargo management system and will drive the airline’s digital future, delivering game-changing benefits for the airline, its customers and partners.

Once the system is fully operational based on the release of subsequent phases, Virgin Atlantic customers’ systems will be able to interface directly through APIs and connect with the airline’s new web platform for pricing, bookings, allocations, and operations, while ‘live chat’ and Chatbots will offer 24/7 interaction based on each customers’ communications preferences.

Suzy Wardle, Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s Head of Digital & Distribution, said: “We are making this significant investment in a new cargo management system and digital infrastructure because the way customers want to interact with us, and their expectations, are changing as new technologies emerge in the cargo space. With Accenture’s full suite of AFLS modules, including cloud-enabled digital interactions with our customers and partners, we will evolve the way we do business and offer our products and services.”

The AFLS 8.0 platform will support the continued growth of Virgin’s cargo business by enabling:

• Automation and self-service supporting simpler pricing, booking and routing processes;
• Better decision-making ability, aligning revenue management processes around routes, capacity, costs and rates;
• Real-time visibility, control and enhanced utilisation of capacity, increasing profitability;
• Simplification of processes and greater responsiveness, supporting business goals;
• Data warehousing, enabling analytics and optimisation;
• Integration with other Virgin systems, enabling seamless syncing with its cargo partners.

“Our entire business model is based on giving customers more choice and flexibility, whether this means more routes and frequencies, new products and services, or the ability to interact with us in the way they want to do business. And, we want our customers to experience great service. We are making positive progress in each of these areas but to modernise and future-proof our business, we need a far-reaching digitisation programme which allows customers to interact with us in new and innovative ways by offering them the opportunity to do everything they do with us today by phone and email via a digital platform. We are looking forward to having real-time intelligence to make the most informed business decisions. The AFLS 8.0 platform is going to accelerate our digital transformation and give customers even more reasons to choose to work with Virgin Atlantic,” added Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director, Cargo.

Ganesh Vaideeswaran, managing director in Accenture’s AFLS business, added: “We are delighted to work with Virgin Atlantic as they make a wise pivot to their digital future using the AFLS 8.0 platform. Accenture designed this platform to help its clients reinvent the way they communicate and operate with customers, employees and partner ecosystems. For Virgin Atlantic Cargo, AFLS 8.0 will support its goals to redefine core business processes and drive commercial and operational excellence.”

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