Technology’s airfreight takeover

The integration of technology in airfreight operations has significantly enhanced transparency, security, and efficiency across the supply chain. Platforms can digitise manual processes, providing real-time visibility into rates, capacity, and bookings. This ensures that all stakeholders – from forwarders to airlines – have immediate access to accurate information, reducing reliance on back-and-forth communications via email and phone. 

APIs enable automatic updates on shipment status and schedule changes, which improves customer experience and builds trust. Additionally, integrated analytics consolidate relevant data, giving both operational teams and decision-makers clear insights into performance metrics, such as shipment volume trends. 

The shift to digital platforms has improved data security by replacing physical documentation, which can be easily lost or tampered with. Frequent audits to maintain compliance with global standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC2 are key to secure digital systems. 

“Digital solutions have significantly improved operational workflows. Forwarders no longer need to manually compare rates across multiple carriers or wait for email confirmations, as live rates and instant booking confirmations reduce handling time. Despite these advancements, there is still “adoption resistance” that arises from concerns over complexity and moving away from traditional workflows,” Antonia Ambrozy, Commercial Director – SMB Forwarders at WebCargo by Freightos, stated.

“Airfreight is by default a fast-moving industry. Rates and capacity are changing by the minutes and most of the ongoing operations are human-backed, which means potential human error.

Digital platforms are improving transparency through real-time data sharing, security with advanced encryption, and efficiency by automating bookings, quotations, and reporting for the forwarders – but also for the airlines/GSAs with the possibility to have dynamic prices and other insights,” Matt Petot, Founder and CEO of CargoAI, added.

“Working digitally provides data…