The need for operational efficiency, cost cutting and supply chain visibility is driving adoption of Air Cargo Community Systems (ACCS), a new whitepaper by Transport Intelligence (Ti) and Kalé Logistics has found.
Nearly two-thirds of ACCS users surveyed for the whitepaper said the commercial and operational benefits of adoption outweigh implementation costs.
The white paper, “The Missing Layer: How Airport Cargo Community Systems are Closing the Industry’s Information Gap”,highlighted stakeholder collaboration, visibility of cargo, regulatory compliance and fewer disputes or misunderstandings with other stakeholders as key benefits of ACCS.
Reseach presented in the whitepaper showed that 68.2% of users reported improved collaboration between cargo stakeholders, while 59.1% experienced greater end-to-end cargo visibility.
Meanwhile, the whitepaper found that operational and resource constraints; lack of return on investment; and stakeholder trust and engagement have been perceived as barriers to adoption of ACCS, yet air cargo organisations not using ACCS are at risk of loss of competitiveness, highlighted the whitepaper,
In fact, 62% of non-users believe failing to implement ACCS will reduce their competitiveness within 24 months, and 60.5% expect operating costs to rise if digital transformation is delayed.
The research, which draws on information from almost 200 participants in over 15 countries, also revealed that 46% of organisations continue to rely primarily on email or FTP to exchange information with external stakeholders, highlighting the continued use of fragmented communication methods across the air cargo supply chain.
Technology value recognised
“Organisations already using Air Cargo Community Systems report measurable commercial and operational benefits, while perhaps the most significant finding from the research is that organisations yet to adopt the technology already recognise its value,” said Amar More, chief executive and co-founder, Kalé.
“The question is no longer whether Air Cargo Community Systems work, but how quickly businesses can implement them and begin realising the benefits.”
“Air cargo is one of the world’s most time-critical industries, yet many organisations still rely on disconnected processes to exchange operational information,” said Viki Keckarovska, research manager, Transport Intelligence.
“Our research demonstrates that the commercial case for Air Cargo Community Systems is now supported by operational evidence.
“Users are reporting measurable improvements, while non-adopters largely recognise the potential benefits. The remaining barriers are practical rather than conceptual, giving the industry a clear opportunity to accelerate digital adoption.”
The white paper was launched on 15 July during a virtual event attended by Glyn Hughes, director general, TIACA, and Nico de Cauwer, security general, International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), who provided insight into what the research means for the air cargo industry.
“This research shows that digitalisation is already delivering measurable benefits across the air cargo industry, from stronger collaboration to better visibility and lower operating costs,” said Hughes.
“The message for the industry is clear: we need to move beyond isolated systems and commit to shared standards, connected platforms, and trusted data exchange, so that these gains can be realised across the entire cargo community.”
