Descartes Systems Group, a leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, has announced that its Descartes Air Messaging solution has successfully streamlined the transmission of air shipment data in compliance with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) ONE Record messaging standard.
IATA’s ONE Record initiative aims to modernize and digitize air cargo messaging services by January 1, 2026, replacing the traditional document exchange systems like Cargo-IMP and Cargo XML.
Dr. Christian Lehr, Senior Director of Global Fulfillment Development at Lufthansa Cargo, emphasized the significance of this digitization effort:
“Lufthansa Cargo is committed to digitization initiatives that enhance connections between our customers and stakeholders, making air cargo transportation more efficient and faster. Descartes’ ability to support the ONE Record standard is an important step in providing customers with a more efficient, real-time data-sharing model using a single record for each shipment.”
The Descartes Air Messaging solution is specifically designed for the air cargo industry, supporting a wide array of data standards and message specifications to seamlessly share air shipment information across regional and global operations. These include Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) like ONE Record, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), and direct system-to-system connectivity.
By providing more accurate and timely air shipment information, the solution enhances transparency and efficiency within the air cargo sector, ultimately accelerating the movement of freight.
Scott Sangster, General Manager of Logistics Services Providers at Descartes, expressed the company’s enthusiasm for supporting the ONE Record standard:
“We are pleased to support the ONE Record standard. Air industry customers have long relied on Descartes to facilitate communication with their trading partners using traditional messaging standards. IATA’s ONE Record project presents a new opportunity to strengthen these relationships by introducing modern methods for sharing and managing air cargo data. This will streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve the overall customer experience in air cargo operations.”
With the ONE Record initiative, the air cargo industry is poised for a significant transformation, enabling more efficient data sharing and ultimately contributing to a smoother and faster flow of goods globally.