At a simple level, an API is a set of programming instructions and standards for accessing a web-based software application or tool. They are the sets of requirements that govern how one application can talk to another. APIs in turn are modern day equivalents of real time chat applications like snapchat, WhatsApp and so on - systems that are connected in real time with near zero delay between request and response. For instance, a travel company develops and makes available an API so that other travel companies can send information requests to its systems, and of course receive the replies, usu...

When it comes to innovation, our heroes are those who can do more with less by Author The air cargo business is one of great opportunity in today's world, but it is not easy to figure out the nuances. As a crucial driver of the world economy, the sector should expect demand to be intensely growing every year, but the yield isn't showing such a strong trend in reality. This puts pressure on pricing as well as product to enable a significant distinction from the generic supply (stemming from ever increasing passenger aircraft bellies) that eats into the growing demand. The good news is that air ...

In order to unlock its full potential in terms of service delivery quality and diversity of product portfolio, there is an urgent need to recast the air cargo fulfillment model on the basis of connected, open architecture digital platforms that enable seamless, real time communication between supply chain partners. by Author A key consideration from the above dictum is that all partners in the supply chain have to be integrated on a common platform such that they can "speak one common language". In the absence of such alignment with a unified messaging standard, manual interventions and offlin...

As discussed in the earlier blog post Cargo may hold key to bringing autonomous vehicles to the mainstream   any attempt to integrate the last mile delivery on to a technology platform puts two distinct types of demands on the system. One is the introduction of a sufficiently advanced technological module (device/vehicle) that enables the achievement of the goal and the other is to effectively connect this module into the entire system in a manner that makes the exchange of signals and data possible in an efficient manner. 1. Device (vehicle) capability   The whole premise ...

There are a lot of eager eyes watching the development of autonomous vehicles (or self driving cars, to keep it simple) and betting on how soon they will hit the roads as mainstream – or at least in significant volumes to ensure they are treated as acceptably normal with respect to conventional cars. Despite the advancement and depth of technology involved, it is often said that the human element is the biggest challenge. The ideal vehicle will be expected to not just interface in a level-appropriate manner with the passengers inside, but also negotiate its path with reference to other people,...