Digital transformation is taking place but more is needed

Collaboration on digital change has never been so important as it is today and the COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt emphasized the need for more across the supply chain.

Some industry critics might question whether there is genuine industry-benefitting collaboration and transformation taking place right now.

There has been plenty of rhetoric over the years, with endless discussions at industry conferences, and sadly it is true that this has in many cases not led to any meaningful results.

So how do we change that?

PayCargo’s philosophy has always been ‘open collaboration’ and we welcome opportunities to talk with industry stakeholders about areas where we can work together for the greater benefit of the industry.

Earlier this month, we added to our growing list of supply chain stakeholder partnerships, when we integrated our digital payments network with IBS Software’s iCargo air cargo management platform.

Previously established system integrations include collaboration with industry leaders such as Champ Cargosystems, Accelya, Unisys and Kale Logistics.

The objective of these integrations is to enable more carriers and cargo ground handling companies, with little effort, to digitalize and simplify payments, reducing manual processes and streamlining operations.

Integration with our airline and ground handlers’ vendors’ operational system partners makes sense, as it enables their staff to expedite the release of cargo without the need for accessing multiple systems and automates data flows to save time and avoid costly human errors.

This has become even more relevant as the global cargo and shipping supply chain has had to rethink the way it does business in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of employees now working remotely and demand soaring for a reliable online freight payment platform solution such as PayCargo.

There is no doubt that COVID-19 is further enhancing the need for digital transformation across the air cargo industry and more digital change and adoption is certainly needed to ensure the future success of the industry, although the focus on digital collaboration is undisputedly now as high as it has ever been.

Traditionally the industry has been slow to adopt innovative technology, but we are on the verge of a significant change and there is clear tangible collaboration and change taking place that is benefitting the entire supply chain.

Much of this will surely be reflected in the months ahead as the global supply chain recovers from the devastating effects of the pandemic and the benefits of current digital investments bear fruit.
There is a long way to go in terms of transformation in our industry for sure, and more open collaboration is definitely needed to secure the future of air cargo, but there can be no doubting that we as an industry have made great strides and the discussions of the last few years are at last coming to fruition.

The demand for faster, more reliable, cost effective and transparent supply chains is increasing at a pace that has never been seen before, and digitalization is the key to unlocking this potential.

For our part, PayCargo continues its open collaborative philosophy, playing our small part in driving the much-needed transformation with meaningful solutions that benefit the entire supply chain.