The propensity of high value cargo to take to the air, rather than other channels, is influenced primarily by one single factor - speed and secondly, reliability. But this also places great demands on maintaining the security and integrity of the shipment, which is a key driver for the modernization currently happening as well as envisioned for the future in the air cargo supply chain. IATA has declared a commitment to "deliver enhanced value for the industry by driving a safe, secure, profitable and sustainable air cargo supply chain". IATA has formally identified unregulated supply chain par...

​In the previous part of this blog post series, we had considered the symbiotic relationship between air cargo and e-commerce. A key observation was that instead of pushing for full consolidation, the more practical solution should involve a significant effort invested in creating highly customized cargo products that enable e-commerce companies to improve the value proposition they provide to their customers. The first focus area had also been explored. Here we continue with the rest of the focus areas which will help air cargo to align better with e-commerce players and their requiremen...

The phrase "brick and mortar" is a retronym to imply a physical entity in a landscape that is slowly being taken over by its digital variant – the most prominent example being a retail store in a world that is embracing e-commerce. At the risk of oversimplification, the electronic model is favourable for sellers who can cut off intermediaries as well as save investment in showroom space and other sales display related costs, while the end customers appreciate the fact that these savings are typically passed on to them through slashed prices! The key lies in the logistics of getting the purchas...

Air cargo is a complex business involving a massive supply chain that stretches all across the globe. The ecosystem is divided in a very granular manner, with the airline itself handling a very small portion of the cargo movement and the rest being handled by partners which are far from seamless in their connection to the chain. Between the shipper and the receiver, every package passes through several hands with varying degrees of manual and automated operation. In the absence of full digitization, the excessive number of non-standardized intermediaries in the network form weak links on the c...

Despite registering a growth of over 90% over the past decade as per World Bank statistics, certain structural deficiencies - slim margins, low yields and low predictability - have held back the air cargo industry from fully capitalizing on the heavy demand for freight movement. High impact, sustainable solutions are essential and the signals are strong for a digital future. The IBS Cargo Forum, which recently concluded in Abu Dhabi, focused on the digital evolution of the air cargo industry landscape, and how the iCargo platform stands to generate tremendous value for the astute customer. &nb...