Setting the bar in the airfreight industry

Fresh from celebrating its 25th anniversary, Cargo iQ operates across the air cargo industry with the mission of creating and implementing quality standards. Supported by IATA, its members are working worldwide to define the processes behind the transportation of cargo, measuring success and continuously improving the value of airfreight for customers.

Speaking the same language

The airfreight industry is part of an interconnected supply chain that must run smoothly if goods are to efficiently move from A to B.

“I believe standards are very important because if people are not speaking the same language due to lack of standards, you already have a possible misunderstanding,” Lothar Moehle, Cargo iQ’s Executive Director, said.

Moehle isn’t looking for everyone to behave identically. One company can have a slightly different approach to operations from their competitors. It’s not about creating carbon copies but, rather, about finding the most efficient and effective way for the industry as a whole to work together within the existing frameworks adopted by those involved in the cargo handling process.

Providing real-time information

There has been an increased clamouring from customers across the air cargo sector for realtime information to be available in the booking and transit process, so they can have greater knowledge about how their cargo is handled and where it is at all times.

Digitalisation is playing a key role in achieving this through tracking devices, which are placed within shipments prior to their departure. Moehle recognises that this is a “good tool to have” in addition to the traditional planning and monitoring systems.

Speed up the pace

When it comes to the role technology can play in airfreight, the main hurdle is the slow rollout that has occurred across certain companies, delaying the benefits innovation can provide. With realtime end-to-end transparency in planning, execution and evaluation of shipments, a key value for Cargo iQ, this is something that they hope to tackle.

As Moehle puts it, “the million-dollar question” is how can reluctant parts of the industry be convinced to embrace technology at a faster pace. “I’m not that much of an IT expert. I am just an impatient guy who sees the solution and wants to implement it yesterday,” he joked.

“We have many plans already in the pipeline to continue this good work and bring the benefits of data sharing, digitalisation, and collaboration to the global air cargo sector,” Moehle said.