Seven firms sign up to IATA digital charter

IATA launched a Digitalization Leadership Charter at the World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Hong Kong on 14 March with Cathay Cargo, CHAMP Cargosystems, Global Logistics System, IAG Cargo, IBS Software, LATAM Cargo, and Lufthansa Cargo as inaugural signatories.

The charter has been developed in consultation with IATA’s Cargo Advisory Council Members, airlines and the wider air cargo community.

It aims to drive innovation, enhance efficiency and promote a sustainable and harmonized digital transformation. Central to the charter is data sharing using IATA’s ONE Record protocol.

IATA’s global head of cargo, Brendan Sullivan, told WCS delegates: “Digitalization is imperative for the air cargo industry. It requires alignment to ensure a unified and effective approach. IATA has introduced the Digitalization Leadership Charter to spearhead this alignment.

“By adhering to the Charter’s principles—adopting industry-wide standards, championing sustainability, ensuring ethical technology use, and upholding digital leadership—the charter sets a benchmark for excellence.”

The Digital Leadership guiding principles include commitments to develop a unified and collaborative digital strategy that champions interoperability and the use of global standards across the entire supply chain.

It also calls for enhanced organisational resilience through the building of robust digital infrastructure and implementing strategies to safeguard against cybersecurity risks while ensuring the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Signatories should also pursue sustainable digitalization and support eco-friendly technology. They must also stay ahead of digital trends, ensure secure and sustainable practices and establish industry best practices.

In addition they must use new technology ethically.