Page 26 - ITLN May - June 2022 issue

Industry Report
Air Cargo

operations. “In a volatile context where
the available staff and equipment
are restrained, smart algorithms
enhance resource allocation based on
requirements,” he added.
He pointed out that the reduction
of Co2 emissions is another benefit
which airlines can derive from AI, ML
and big data.
“By combining data points from
planes’ communication systems
with real-time data about the flight
itself (such as weather and loads),
these technologies are able to
determine how efficiently fuel is being Rajan also noted that AI and ML
used during any given flight. This have many more applications such as
information is then communicated in planning, warehouse automation,
to pilots, along with suggestions for resource management and automation
actionable changes, such as reducing of business processes. He also
acceleration altitude,” he said. predicts that as the cost barrier to
Air cargo is in the business of selling such technology diminishes due to
cargo capacity, a highly complex and advancements in computing, the industry
dynamic asset. How the airlines identify, will see more such cases becoming part
package and sell this asset to the right of day-to-day use.
buyer at the right time and market Kale Logistics Solutions has been a
conditions determines the maximum pioneer in cargo community systems
yield they draw from the asset. Cargo and has integrated AI, ML and data
may take only hours to travel from origin It's time for air cargo visualisation to transform the air
to destination but may stay on the ground to help the customers cargo operations. They have used AI in
for days before reaching the consignee. to find products in the geofencing for truck slot management at
According to Rajan, AI, ML and precise moment of need, the airport complex.
analytics are the capabilities that perhaps before they even More says, “Transporters can dock-in
will save almost any industry from perceive that need. with the mobile app when in the premises
commoditization in the future, not just on the airport. This saves significant time
airlines. He notes that air cargo provides Amar More for both the transporter and the cargo
some unique challenges for traditional Kale Logistics Solutions handler to handle cargo.”
statistical functions like forecasting and Kale Logistics Solutions uses ML in
reports that they have been able to see Ramnath identifies two use cases: converting PDF, scanned documents or
improvement in accuracy of results by customer service and dynamic pricing. emails to electronic Air Waybills (e-AWB).
adopting AI and ML based algorithms for AI-powered virtual assistants (or chatbots) Their tool – PING reads the data from
these functions. allow airlines to better engage with these sources and picks the relevant data
“Intelligent automation in solutions customers and in the case of pricing, fields to create the standard e-AWB and
that sell air cargo can transform the “airlines use algorithms to forecast file with the airline. “This can be done in
airlines' cargo business like never before. demand and set prices for years.” less than 3 minutes,” he adds.
Above competitive advantage, a well “But, using AI/ML, air cargo can Data visualisation is another crucial
thought-through and implemented data- dynamically recommend products and area which is gaining a lot of ground,
driven analytics strategy can bring better set prices that appeal to individual data around top customers, products,
yields, become more responsive, improve consumers,” he adds. seasonality, processing times, revenue
efficiencies and deliver better customer According to Rajan, the most common leakages and equipment utilisation for
satisfaction levels that encourage repeat and widespread area for analytics an airport or handler can lead to better
business,” he said. based algorithms and AI in air cargo customer service, profitability and
is in revenue management and more process efficiency.
What does AI/ML on ground mean? specifically in the area of dynamic pricing.
AI is a broader term that describes “As the industry adopts digitalization How about data visualisation
applications that understand, think, in the sales process, pricing and offer More notes that we are in the era of
learn, and behave like humans. Whereas management need to become smarter predictive commerce.
ML is a subset of AI, it allows the and ubiquitous – in contrast to the He says that it's time for air cargo to
machines to learn and make predictions reactive business process prevalent help the customers to find products in
based on their experience (data). today,” he says. the precise moment of need, “perhaps
24 May - June 2022 www.itln.in