Page 18 - LUA Sep - October 2022 for Magzter

SPECIAL REPORT

HOW innovation-led

LED DIGITALISATION

REVITALISED THE

AIR CARGO INDUSTRY?

Digital transformation and sustainability became the two megatrends of 2021 as a
response to the pandemic and the widespread supply chain crisis. However, it was
the efficiency and reliability of digital processes and innovations, where human error
is reduced and which presented great cost savings and risk reduction for businesses
worldwide that seemed to have caught on when it comes to the air cargo sector,
reports Lakshmi Ajay

or years the air cargo logistics part of its Ultra Track cargo tracking service.
industry has remained marred With near real-time visibility into shipment
with inefficiencies, paperwork, and status and location for airport-to-airport
Fopaqueness in the supply chain moves of high-value goods, Cathay Pacific
with several of its important stakeholders transformed the customer experience while
working in information silos. reducing operational costs.
While many systems and processes “In terms of first and last mile
are still manual, this lack of innovations shipment tracking, innovative cloud-
can be attributed to regulatory oversight, based technology can provide the air
resistance to change, large legacy cargo industry with real-time visibility/
infrastructures, differing standards, and or ETA for ULDs and shipment status
lack of capital. Air cargo updates. Customer expectations have
However post the outbreak of the community moved from “Where’s my stuff?” to also
Coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, include “How’s my stuff?” The condition
innovations that may have taken years systems can of goods in transit has been especially
to roll out were adopted within days or unlock a value of critical for high-value goods and pharma
months across the value chain in many at least over $9Bn shipments in particular. This particular
areas. From sensors capable of tracking technology innovation
location and condition of shipments annually and save has been enabled by the
to digital tags, 3D scanning, digital around 120,000 advancement in next-
identification, innovative, interfacing generation equipment
legacy systems with open architecture- trees annually tags and readers to monitor the
based software, AI-led machine learning contributing to location and condition of ULDs and their
to analyze swathes of real-time data, contents, including temperature, humidity,
improving track and trace via Bluetooth, the environment. light, movement, security, and chain of
or electronic devices, to wearable robotics, AMAR MORE custody of goods,” shared Scott Sangster,
air cargo logistics went digital in a KALE LOGISTICS General Manager, Global Logistics Service
multitude of areas. Incidentally, the leading Providers at Descartes.
trade body International Air Transport ensured today that cargo can today “This innovation has also increased the
Association (IATA) also hosted its first communicate things about itself even ability for asset owners to charge detention
ever ‘Innovation Day’ at its Geneva, before leaving the source and breaking and demurrage on assets not being
Switzerland office on 31 May 2022. information silos. properly returned to owners, which has led
Cathay Pacific Cargo, for instance, to increased revenue,” Sangster added.
MAKING CARGO deployed the Descartes CORE Tracking Previously an average air cargo
INTERACTIVE Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) readers, tags, shipment had 30 types of documents, over
The power of technology and data has and network to several airports worldwide as 124 copies of paper, and was supposed to

16 LUA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2022