Section III: Analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing
Demanding projects to increase competitiveness are underway in all business segments. Lufthansa Systems with its restructuring programs Jetzt! and the Catering segment, which with “Upgrade plus” is making structural adjustments and thereby achieving lasting cost savings. There is some headwind, however. Austrian Airlines missed its earnings target for 2011 by a large margin, so that the restructuring endeavors there had to be intensified. All activities contribute systematically to teh Group's profit and cash flow from operating activities. They help us to maintain our investment grade rating and avoid any constraints on our financial flexibility, which is so immensely important for our economic independence. Indeed, it is our sound financial profile that enables us to invest in our business segments, fleet, staff and products for our customers.
In addition to being the world's leader in the highly competitive and volatile air cargo industry - with a diverse array of products and services - Lufthansa Cargo is also one of the most innovative. Lufthansa Systems - leading Lufthansa Cargo's IT innovation initiative known as FOReSIGHT - has selected Manugistics' market-leading solutions to help fine tune Lufthansa Cargo's global demand forecasting, helping optimize resource allocation and utilization, in order to maximize responsiveness and efficiencies.
In addition to improving efficiencies, Manugistics' solutions can help Lufthansa Cargo enhance customer service levels by facilitating prompt delivery of its range of time-definite products. Additionally, Manugistics' solutions help simultaneously optimize cargo flows and resource utilization throughout Lufthansa Cargo's expansive cargo handling network - including its central cargo hub in Frankfurt and some of the world's largest freight stations.