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specialreport

TECHNOLOGY

BACKBONE

OF THE

AIR CARGO

INDUSTRY

The role of digital service providers in streamlining and
smoothing the global supply chain is crucial. The future of
the airfreight sector is undoubtedly digital, and it is more
than simply a collection of discrete ventures; it signals a
fundamental transformation. But what is the industry doing to
support this futuristic approach, and how are they overcoming
day-to-day challenges? Let’s find out.
Zinal Dedhia

he air cargo business has histor- future in which they will be able to con- ing industry. This requires robust data
ically been slow to adopt digital duct all communication through a single integration systems and quality checks
documentation, resulting in a system. However, in order to simplify this on our part. Further, market volatility,
Tdependence on manual and, at futuristic strategy, challenges must be driven by factors like fuel prices and
times, error-prone procedures. However, tackled today and resolved. geopolitical events, demands dynamic
things are changing quickly. pricing algorithms for real-time rate
Leaders in the industry are more Everyday challenges adjustments. Something that’s been in
focused than ever on establishing As with other aspects of modern day life, the news lately–carbon emissions and
new digital supply chains to promote technology is assisting in making many regulations–is another challenge for
operational excellence and differentiate everyday challenges simpler, and creative our industry, at large. To help our clients
themselves from the competition. technological solutions are especially navigate global regulatory compliance,
According to Judah Levine, Head of beneficial in keeping up with the latest we created compliance tools such as our
Research, Freightos, the air cargo industry regulatory developments and streamlin- CO2 calculator,” said Levine.
was in the early stages of the shift to digi- ing data administration. Innovative technological solutions are
tal sales when the pandemic began. At But technology has its own set of issues. useful for maintaining current with regula-
the end of 2019, carriers representing 10% One of the most essential aspects of tech- tory changes and streamlining data ad-
of total industry capacity were making nological improvements in air freight is ministration. As technology has improved,
bookings available on third party online data. In a fast-evolving business, how is the freight transportation has become more
platforms like WebCargo by Freightos. industry keeping up with accurate data? clear, instantaneous, and efficient.
Logistics and freight forwarding busi- “One of daily challenges is to main- “The challenges that we see are the
nesses are preparing for a digitalised tain data accuracy in a rapidly chang- different silos or many parties that are
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