More digitalisation equals better data for air cargo

Data quality within the air cargo sector is problematic but is anticipated to improve as digitalisation becomes more widespread, according to one speaker at the Air Cargo Southeast Asia event.

Addressing how companies working in air cargo and logistics can ensure the quality of data testing in digitalisation, Harald Sieke, department head of Center of Logistics and Mobility, Fraunhofer IML Aviation Logistics, said that more digitalisation uptake in the industry would likely lead to better data quality.

But he added that the data for cargo handling is “troublesome” sometimes.

For example, he said, around five partners working on predictive analytics projects have provided data to Fraunhofer IML Aviation Logistics, but the quality was mixed.

“It was a mixture of good and bad data,” he said. “The better the data was, the better for artificial intelligence.”

He said that ideally a structure of data quality testing, using IATA’s One Record standard would be used.

ONE Record is a standard for data sharing and creates a single record view of the shipment.

The ONE Record standard defines a common data model for the data that is shared via standardised and secured web API.

IATA is currently asking partner airlines to follow the One Record standard from January 1 2026.

The aim is that by this date, ONE Record will be established as the only industry data-sharing standard supported by IATA.

“From there onwards the quality (of data) should rise”, as digitisation is embedded further into the industry, remarked Sieke.

Sieke, who has previously worked in air traffic logistics and on the development and expansion of air cargo hubs such as Frankfurt, is currently focusing specifically on sustainability, AI/IT, digitalisation and production.