Singapore Airlines (SIA) and India-based IBS Software have announced a milestone in their quest to jointly develop a shipment record solution.

The hope is to advance towards IATA’s ONE Record standards through the digitisation of shipment records and usage of technology.

The two companies have announced that – working in conjunction with Cargo Community Network (CCN) – they have now completed the first phase of the development plan, one that involves the creation and sharing of shipment records across airlines, cargo community system providers and ground handling agents on the ONE Record platform.

CCN’s open data collaboration platform, CUBEforall, is being used to facilitate data exchange and improve transparency, while integrating legacy systems with ONE Record standards.

The completion of the first-phase milestone was outlined at the IATA ONE Record roadshow held in Singapore on July 23.

Today, a single airfreight shipment usually involves multiple copies of shipment records being created and shared across individual stakeholders.

The digitisation of shipment records through ONE Record will enable a carrier such as Singapore Airlines to maintain a “single source of truth, allowing the data to be utilised beyond the physical life cycle of shipments”.

This streamlined data exchange will facilitate transparency and visibility across reporting, revenue accounting and future planning for all stakeholders, the partners said.

Ashok Rajan, head of cargo and logistics solutions at IBS Software, remarked: “Partnering with Singapore Airlines, a globally recognised leader in aviation innovation, to drive the digital future of air cargo is a significant objective for IBS Software.

“In today’s cargo industry, data accessibility and transparency are paramount.

“Data and digitalisation are key enablers for the development of solutions that allow cargo carriers to grow and meet their customers’ evolving needs.”

Marvin Tan, senior vice president cargo at Singapore Airlines, added: “At Singapore Airlines, we continuously invest and innovate in all aspects of the business.

“By co-developing a digital shipment record solution with IBS Software, we remain committed to meeting IATA’s ONE Record’s goal for enhanced data visibility for all our stakeholders.

“This collaboration positions both organisations at the forefront of cargo digitalisation, as we unlock new efficiencies and business opportunities and respond to the evolving needs of the industry.”

iCargo

In other news from IBS Software, earlier this month (July), it was announced that Air India will use its iCargo solution to help it digitalise its air cargo operations and end-to-end cargo management.

IBS Software’s fully integrated iCargo solution is designed to enable airlines to streamline operations through seamless integration of numerous cargo operations, including sales and billing, within a single, integrated platform.

The first end-to-end implementation of iCargo is slated for delivery within nine months from the project’s start. Subsequent phases will introduce incremental “value-added capabilities”.