Air India Cargo adopts Unisys Digistics™ for better integration

July 30, 2019: National airline Air India has adopted Unisys Digistics™ integrated logistics software suite to create a connected and automated cargo ecosystem for consistent and accurate data across the organisation.

While Air India has been using Unisys technology for approximately 30 years, the new system will leverage advanced analytics for booking, accounting, to help improve cash flow for the airline while creating greater transparency around shipment status for the airline's cargo clients.

"Air India's cargo business is growing fast, so we needed an integrated solution with the speed and flexibility to grow with our business and provide our customers with faster deliveries and greater visibility into their shipments. Unisys is helping us implement a next-generation cargo platform that uses automated real-time data collection and processing to streamline processes. As it is integrated with our accounting system it will enable prompt and accurate invoicing for carriage of cargo for better credit control, less bad debts and ultimately more cash flow," said Nirbhik Narang, executive director-cargo, Air India.

Under the new contract, signed in the second quarter 2019, the next-generation cargo platform will feature three additional Digistics modules on a software-as-a-service (Saas) basis to streamline freight management and improve operational efficiencies: digi-accounting, digi-mobile and digi-analytics.

Digi-accounting integrates with a carrier's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and industry-standard accounting systems including Cargo Account Settlement Systems (CASS), Simplified Interline Settlement (SIS) and billing through IATA Cargo House (ICH) and non-ICH services.

Digi-Mobile will allow the use of mobile devices to process shipments on the move at any location, such as an aircraft ramp, using digital signatures and bar code scanning via a smart phone so that Air India can process freight more quickly and securely.

Digi-Analytics will provide rich, multi-dimensional, insightful and interactive data visualisations to highlight cargo patterns such as tendered cargo compared to bookings, anomalies and behaviours.

Rick Mayhew, vice president and general manager, Unisys Asia Pacific said, "Our award-winning Digistics cargo software and services are the foundation behind Air India's new connected cargo ecosystem. By automatically capturing and using a single data set throughout the process from booking to accounting, based on the trusted Air Waybill, Air India will be at the forefront of the cargo industry's modernisation and transformation to a connected cargo supply that will not only improve transparency for the airline's customers, it will streamline processes and improve credit control and cash flow for the airline."

Unisys will also provide a postal mail and parcel shipment scanning and tracking solution to allow the airline and customers to have full visibility of shipment progress.