Freightos’ seventh annual FreighTech conference highlighted some of the most critical shifts in logistics today. As digitalization ramps up, shippers, forwarders, and carriers are racing to connect, but it’s all about making connections that actually work. With digital tools growing faster than ever, all stakeholders in the supply chain have a lot to gain – but only if their systems can talk to each other. Megan Kelley, VP of Enterprise Applications at Crane Worldwide Logistics sums it up:
Digitalization should add value not complexity.
And that’s where data standards come into play.
Standards like electronic Air Waybills (eAWBs) are setting a fresh benchmark in logistics standards, allowing seamless data exchange and efficiency gains. But these standards are still rolling out, and in many cases, are still far from universal. So, until then, digital platforms are bridging the gap.
Take WebCargo as an example. They’re bringing dozens of airlines – including new arrivals like Qantas Freight– straight into forwarders’ TMSs (transport management systems) using APIs, effectively bridging the divide. This means forwarders get streamlined booking, better visibility, and smoother operations, even without universal standards in place.
Marc Santasusagna, Senior Sales Engineer from WebCargo explains it as follows,
The real potential lies in uniting our systems – integrating more solutions and creating seamless connections across the freight industry. That’s where we unlock true digital efficiency, with APIs driving improvements across core logistics operations.
Here are some standout takeaways from the FreighTech discussions on making logistics smarter:
- Execution Systems Need to Work Together: From booking to shipment management, the value of digital tools skyrockets when they’re seamlessly integrated, giving forwarders and shippers a single view to manage it all.
- Standards Set the Foundation: Industry standards like eAWBs create a new baseline for efficiency in digital logistics. When these standards aren’t universal, platforms like WebCargo fill the gap, linking players across the industry on their own terms..
- Bringing More Players into the Network: With more shippers, forwarders, and carriers digitizing, the need for integration is rising to ensure everyone is on the same page. As Kelley puts it,
Building seamless connections across systems isn’t just about technology – it’s about people.
Platforms like WebCargo are setting the pace by connecting carriers and forwarders through tech solutions that don’t wait on industry-wide agreements.
Explore these themes in depth and read the full blog on Freightos.
