For decades, digital transformation in the air cargo sector has largely meant replacing paper with electronic documentation. Initiatives such as International Air Transport Association’s e-freight programme laid the groundwork for this transition, with electronic air waybills now accounting for more than two-thirds of global shipments—clear evidence that the industry can modernise its processes.
However, while documentation became digital, the underlying structure of information exchange remained largely unchanged. Data continued to move through siloed systems, relying on legacy messaging standards that date back several decades. This limitation highlighted a deeper challenge: digitisation alone does not equate to true digital transformation.
It is within this context that IATA ONE Record was introduced. Designed to fundamentally rethink how data is shared, ONE Record replaces fragmented messaging with a unified data-sharing model. Built on a standardised data framework using JSON-LD and accessible through web APIs, the concept is straightforward yet ambitious—create a single, authoritative data record for each shipment, accessible to all authorised stakeholders.
From Messaging to Real-Time Data Sharing
Traditional standards such as Cargo-IMP and Cargo-XML enabled digital communication but failed to eliminate duplication. Airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and regulators often maintained separate versions of the same shipment data, leading to inconsistencies and inefficiencies.
ONE Record shifts this paradigm. Instead of duplicating data across systems, information remains with its original owner and is accessed directly by partners when needed. This decentralised approach improves data integrity, enhances accountability, and enables interoperability between systems without requiring full integration. Federated security frameworks further ensure that data access remains controlled and secure.
In essence, the industry is moving away from document exchange toward real-time, collaborative data ecosystems.
Early Gains, Uneven Adoption
Momentum behind ONE Record has been building. IATA has positioned it as the preferred standard for air cargo data exchange, with expectations that a significant share of global air waybills will transition to this model in the coming years.
Operational improvements are already emerging. Stakeholders are increasingly working with shared, real-time shipment data rather than reconciling multiple reports. This shift is particularly relevant in sectors such as eCommerce, pharmaceuticals, and time-sensitive logistics, where speed and accuracy are critical.
Yet, adoption remains uneven. Air cargo operates as a network-driven ecosystem, meaning the full benefits of ONE Record are only realised when a critical mass of participants adopts the standard. Smaller operators and organisations with legacy IT infrastructure often face barriers to implementation, slowing overall progress. This highlights a recurring theme in digital transformation: the challenge is as much organisational as it is technological.
Transparency Meets Operational Reality
Beyond technology, ONE Record is also driving a cultural shift. Greater data transparency reduces information asymmetry between stakeholders, enabling more efficient decision-making. In an environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade agreements, and disrupted airspace, access to reliable, real-time data is no longer a competitive advantage—it is an operational necessity.
Fragmented systems, once considered inefficient, are increasingly viewed as risks to resilience and responsiveness in global supply chains.
A Foundation for What Comes Next
The broader significance of ONE Record may lie in its role as an enabler for future innovation. Initiatives such as IATA’s Air Cargo AI Excellence Hub depend on structured, standardised data to function effectively. Emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, automation, and predictive analytics—require a unified data foundation to deliver meaningful value.
In that sense, ONE Record is less a finished solution and more a foundational layer for the next phase of air cargo digitalisation.
Progress Over Perfection
Has ONE Record fully delivered on its promise? Not entirely—but that may not be the right benchmark. Its impact has been incremental rather than disruptive, gradually reshaping how shipment data is created, shared, and trusted.
By redefining data ownership and accessibility, ONE Record is laying the groundwork for a more connected, transparent, and efficient air cargo ecosystem. The future of digital air freight will not be defined solely by the absence of paper, but by the presence of reliable, accessible, and interoperable data.
