The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that “The World Cargo Symposium brought together a record number of delegates, over 1,900 to Hong Kong (SAR), China,” where delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors networked and explored opportunities.
While sustainability, digitization, safety and security remain key priorities for the industry the importance of data exchange and digitalization was crystal clear, IATA said, “it was evident that continued collaboration is necessary to achieve these goals and we need to do it faster by embracing digitalization across all our supply chain partners and attracting new talent to this dynamic industry.”
The Digitalization Leadership Charter was launched at WCS, which aims to accelerate the air cargo industry’s digitalization journey by committing to five key guiding principles, namely, developing a unified and collaborative digital strategy, enhancing organizational resilience, pursuing sustainable digitalization, and pursuing digital excellence as well as using new technology ethically.
Developed in consultation with IATA’s Cargo Advisory Council members and the wider air cargo community, the charter seeks to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and promote a sustainable and harmonized digital transformation. Central to the charter is the importance of data sharing using IATA ONE Record for smooth and efficient data exchange, IATA explained.
Discussions around the digital transformation road to success continued during the Digitalization Stream with industry experts discussing the vital role of data in creating efficiencies, enhancing safety, and how Generative AI has the potential to revolutionize our operations.
The Sustainability Stream tackled the impact that climate change and extreme weather is having on our industry and shared insights into how we can achieve a net-zero future in 2050 by having consistent methodology and reporting mechanisms. Air cargo plays a crucial role in connecting people, businesses and economies worldwide. It contributes to promoting economic development and reducing poverty – we need to encourage people into this wonderful industry.
As the lithium battery fire testing standards for FRC/FCC are being finalized the Safety and Security Stream explained how the fire containment characteristics should be applied in an operator’s safety risk assessment. This stream also discussed the importance of adequate regulatory oversight as well as risk mitigation strategies, focusing on how the advent of an integrated risk management framework is essential for a safe and secure air cargo shipment acceptance and transport
According to IATA, the spotlights this year highlighted ULDs, Live Animals, and Operations discussing the importance of data exchange, AI, and IoT for monitoring shipments in real-time. The innovative initiatives improving the ULD life cycle, animal welfare, and technological evolutions shape our future from the warehouse to the aircraft.
This record-breaking 2024 WCS proved to be once again a successful event that brought everyone from across the air cargo supply chain together to continue to drive our industry forward, IATA said.
