Introducing e-AWB

SriLankan Airlines being the first Airline in south Asia to launch a carbon minimize flight back in 2009, it proved yet again to be proactive when implementing another innovative initiative. Complimenting to the Company’s corporate environment policy, SriLankan Cargo signed an e-AWB (Air waybill) agreement with six of its top customers. This initiative reduce paper consumption and cultivate and promote a paper free work environment that would enable SriLankan Cargo to perform their functions with greater efficiency.

The pioneer corporate entities who will partner SriLankan Airlines on the e-AWB initiative are Expolanka Freight, Speed Mark, Dart Global, Expelogix, Nidro and CR Exports. The complete elimination of paper means that SriLankan Cargo will no longer need to invest resources on purchasing, printing and archiving of paper, which will be an average of 15,000 USD per annum that SriLankan Cargo will save by adopting the initiative. 

SriLankan Cargo has identified e-AWB as a reliable source of storing data that could curtail the risk of losing vital data content. Considered the most crucial transportation document in the cargo operation, the Air Waybill contains details of the shipper, consignee, Airport of origin/destination, number of pieces, weight and the nature of goods. The overall process will be performed with greater efficiency as they no longer have to invest time on the tedious processing procedure. The initiative will increase the processing speed through the elimination of data repetition, real time access to AWB information, reduction in cargo delays due to missing or illegible AWB paper documents, etc.

SriLankan Cargo targets towards e-AWB Adoption

• Current e-AWB adoption is at 23%
• Expected 25% by December 2014
• 100% e-AWB penetration by December 2015

 Financial Benefits of e-AWB adoption

• Eliminate cost of purchasing & Printing paper for AWB
• The total benefit to the trade will be more than 31 Million rupees (Per annum) with the implementation of e-AWB procedure in Sri Lanka.

Non-Financial Benefits of e-AWB adoption

• Increased processing speed and higher productivity
• Elimination of repeat data keying
• Real time access to AWB information
• Reduction in cargo delays due to missing documents
• Detection of error prior to submitting physical freight
• No waiting time for processing paper
• Better Reliability
• Regulatory compliance – this is authorized by international treaties regulating air cargo
• Paving the way towards end goal: e-freight