Why air cargo's AI future starts with a single source of truth

Adopting artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a strategic priority across global supply chains, due to the enormous gains AI promises in productivity, compliance and visibility. Yet there’s still a fundamental challenge that often gets overlooked or underestimated: AI is only as good as the data it’s given.  

For AI to deliver meaningful results, it needs access to accurate, timely, and trusted information. But in air cargo, shipment data is often created, managed and exchanged by multiple parties across different systems. Information can be duplicated, manually re-entered, translated and reconciled throughout a shipment's lifecycle, creating inconsistencies that reduce efficiency and limit opportunities for automation. 

Up until recently, stakeholders across the air cargo supply chain have relied on different electronic messages and file formats to exchange shipment information. 

“For decades, air cargo stakeholders have relied on traditional messaging standards such as FWB and FHL (Master and House Air Waybill data), exchanging shipment information through Cargo Community Systems, while maintaining separate copies of the same data across multiple systems,” explains WiseTech Global Senior Product Manager, Elias Hatzigeorgiou. 

“This fragmented approach creates opportunities for data discrepancies to emerge at every handoff,” says Elias. “The result is increased manual reconciliation, reduced visibility and valuable operational resources being diverted away from delivering an efficient, seamless cargo journey.” 

Setting up air cargo for the future 

Many air cargo processes have been digitized including the introduction of electronic Air Waybills (eAWB), digital booking options, tracking and visibility solutions, and automation of workflows. But as our digital footprint grows, so does the amount of data being shared across forwarders, airlines, ground handlers, and customers. And more data doesn't automatically mean trusted, consistent data. 

To address this challenge, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently introduced ONE Record: a new industry standard that provides air cargo stakeholders with a secure framework for accessing shipment information.  

Unlike traditional messaging approaches, ONE Record doesn't create another platform or database. Instead, it enables airlines, freight forwarders, and technology providers to exchange shipment information using a consistent data model where operational shipment data is maintained at the source. The result is greater transparency, better security, fewer data inconsistencies, and a foundation for more intelligent automation. 

Bringing digital ambitions to life 

Just this month, WiseTech Global announced the successful collaboration with Lufthansa Cargo and IBS Software on one of the first large-scale production implementations of the ONE Record standard. 

The implementation focused on Master Air Waybill data, where the shipment record is directly created in WiseTech Global’s CargoWise platform and made available for Lufthansa Cargo to access from their system using the ONE Record standard. The project demonstrated how airlines, freight forwarders, and technology providers can share shipment information more consistently using a common data model. 

Head of Information Management & Chief Data Officer at Lufthansa Cargo, Dr. Jasmin Kaiser said in a statement: “Following several pilot projects, we are now ready to connect to customers and partners even faster and more efficiently at scale. Furthermore, this seamless data exchange lays the foundation for introducing further digital benefits and AI-powered services.”  

Responding to the news, Head of Cargo Digitalization at IATA, Jonathan Parkinson, commented: “This is a big milestone for our industry! ONE Record has been years in the making. Seeing it move from pilots into production at this scale is what we’ve all been working towards. It shows that when the industry aligns around a common standard, real operational change follows.” 

Why this matters for AI adoption 

According to Gartner, AI and generative AI rank as the top digital supply chain investment priorities among supply chain leaders globally. The growing interest in AI is being driven by the tangible benefits the technology is already delivering.  

From predictive shipment visibility and document processing to exception management and customer service, AI is helping logistics organizations automation routine tasks and workflows, identify risks earlier and make more informed decisions. In fact, research shows companies that have implemented AI across their supply chains have reported up to 65% improvement in service levels.  

But as Product Manager Elias reminds us, AI is only as reliable as the data behind it.  

"As the air cargo industry moves toward a more connected and data driven future, the quality of shipment data becomes a critical competitive advantage. AI can identify disruptions before they occur, improve ETA accuracy and help teams make smarter operational decisions - but only when it has access to complete and trusted information," he says. 

"When shipment data is fragmented or inconsistent, operational risks increase. A shared, standardized and accurate view of the shipment is what turns AI from a promising technology into a transformational capability." 

The future belongs to connected ecosystems 

So, while AI is clearly capturing the industry's attention, the future of air cargo won't be defined by which organizations adopt AI first. It will be defined by which organizations have built the trusted data foundations required to make AI effective. 

“Standards like ONE Record provide the digital foundation for the future of AI in air cargo,” says Elias. “By establishing a common data language and enabling a single source of truth across the supply chain, the industry is unlocking new opportunities for automation, intelligence and collaboration. This is a critical step toward a more connected, agile and resilient air cargo ecosystem.”  

For more information, visit the ONE Record documentation website.