One step closer to digital cargo
The vision for ONE Record is an end-to-end digital logistics and transport supply chain where data is easily and transparently exchanged in a digital ecosystem of air cargo stakeholders, communities and data platforms.
Background
The e-freight program has set the foundation for the digitalization of the Air Cargo industry and the e-AWB is now used for more than 2 out of 3 shipments. This is a signal that the industry is ready to take digitalization to the next level and go beyond EDI and messaging technologies.
Data sharing standard
ONE Record is a standard for data sharing and creates a single record view of the shipment. This standard defines a common data model for the data that is shared via standardized and secured web API.
The standard is based on mature but progressive data sharing technologies that are well aligned with the best practices used by leading airlines. This makes it directly accessible to IT teams and service providers.
The standard specifies
- Data model specification: provides the air cargo industry with a standard data structure for data exchange using JSON-LD that facilitates data integration with existing and new data services;
- API specification: specifies the interface and interaction of the web API or Application Programming Interface that allows airlines and their partners to connect their system directly using best in class web technologies;
- Security specification: uses an industrywide and federated trust network to manage identification and authentication of data sharing systems and ensures data privacy and confidentiality for all parties.
Industry benefits
The objective of ONE Record is to address the main challenges of e-freight and unlock the possibilities of a full digital air cargo industry and create opportunities for new value-added services and business models.
It brings the following benefits to the industry:
- Data quality and control: Data is shared by a data owner who is in full control of data quality. Data stays at the source and the owner determines who may or may not access their data;
- Visibility and transparency: ONE Record aims to cover the end-to-end transportation chain, from the shipper to the consignee. Each party is able to share data of the shipment with relevant parties, ensuring enhanced visibility and transparency;
- Plug & Play connectivity: ONE Record facilitates the direct connectivity between all the industry stakeholders through the use of web API. This will lead to new cooperative IT solutions and innovation;
- Future of digital cargo: ONE Record creates the foundation for true digital air cargo where airlines, their partners and service providers will be able to develop collaborative and automated digital services;
- Welcome a new generation: ONE Record provides a technology platform that is ready for a new generation of digital natives who will be leading the logistics and transport industry within a decade.
ONE Record is an openly accessible standard and the following documentation and resources are available.
Official documentation
- Standard presentation (pdf): A high level introduction to ONE Record: why ONE Record, what is ONE Record, what has ONE Record achieved so far and what's next?
- Data and API specification: official repository of the standard specifications
ONE Record on the web
Standardization: driving air cargo digitalization
Standards are a powerful approach to bringing stakeholders and systems together and lead digitalization of air cargo. ONE Record pursues a vision of the Internet of Logistics, i.e. a digital global network of logistics and transport providers.
Development of the standard
The development of ONE Record started in November 2017 in Amsterdam where IATA invited 40 participants from around the world to lay the foundation for a data sharing concept for air cargo. During this transformational event, the participants sketched out the key elements of ONE Record.
Following this meeting and the ONE Record development was formally established through the Cargo Services Conference (CSC) and the Cargo Operations and Technology Board (COTB) who established the ONE Record Task Force (ORTF) in June 2018.
This ONE Record Task Force was mandated to develop the specifications of the ONE Record standard which was formally issued as a Recommended Practice for the air cargo industry in March 2019 by the Cargo Services Conference at its annual meeting in Singapore, March 2019.
The standard
The ONE Record standard includes:
- Data model specification: provides the air cargo industry with a standard data structure for data exchange using JSON-LD that facilitates data integration with existing and new data services;
- API specification: specifies the interface and interaction of the web API or Application Programming Interface that allows airlines and their partners to connect their system directly using best in class web technologies;
- Security specification: uses an industrywide and federated trust network to manage identification and authentication of data sharing systems and ensures data privacy and confidentiality for all parties.
The current specifications are available on GitHub.
Multimodality in data sharing
Following cooperation with the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum of the European Union, IATA has co-founded a consortium named “FEDeRATED” with the transport ministries of EU member states Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Italy and Luxemburg to develop ONE Record compatible multimodal data sharing recommendations. This is support for the EU Connecting Europe facility.
ONE Record is primarily a technology focused standard and where possible, we will provide tools to support the development and implementation of ONE Record. This includes the core technology such as a ONE Record server but also supporting tools for data model development and useful software modules.
This was developed for the purpose of a ONE Record hackathon and is maintained to be aligned with the latest API. This is a great tool for testing the API directly.
The source code for the reference implementation is available for open use. It includes deployment instructions and can be normally deployed in a couple of hour by an IT developer.
These companies have become the founding nodes of the Internet of Logistics
Pilot deployment of ONE Record
In April 2019, IATA and the industry launched 6 pilots to test ONE Record in practice. Each pilot involves companies who are members of the ONE Record task force as well their partner companies; 25 companies in all.
The purpose of these pilots is to test ONE Record in a transport supply chain setting, including airlines, shippers, forwarders, ground handlers, CCS and customs.
Using the experience, experts in air cargo data and processes, continue to refine and develop the air freight ontology in RDF and JSON-LD as well as refine API and security specs.
In addition to sharing and exchanging FHL, FWB and shipment status data, each pilot is developing and testing new and additional function such as GHA integration, sensor and IoT data, road feeder services and more.
Once the pilots reach their objective, they will connect to each other turning these individual nodes into the initial core of an Internet of Logistics.
ONE Record hackathon: real-time disruptive innovation
Disruptive innovation is an indicator of the future performance of the air cargo industry and the ability transform legacy processes into a digital air cargo ecosystem.
The ONE Record data sharing standard helps build new capabilities in the industry participate in this digital transformation.
Hackathons are a great incubator for disruptive innovation and demonstrate speed and agility in the deployment of the ONE Record technology. This is where creative and disruptive talent meets and push the boundaries of a very traditional industry.
These hackathons are round-the-clock (28hrs of non-stop coding!) experiences gathering developers from across the globe to work on innovative solutions enhancing the air cargo supply chain.
The hackathon giveaway: your own ONE Record server!
ONE Record as a data sharing standard is built on a simple premise: implement your own ONE Record server and connect to the Internet of Logistics, i.e. all the other
ONE Record servers out there. To prime the pump, IATA developed a basic but fully functional ONE Record server that has been uploaded to GitHub for anyone to clone and deploy.
And that was the first challenge: implement a few ONE Record servers and join the movement.
Fueling the future
Although these events are clearly powered by tech savvy innovators who compete to win on the strength of their solutions, these events are also about the community and the collaboration that is fostered there. The community of people that not only dare to innovate and introduce new and disruptive ideas, but who can't live without doing so. They invest their time, energy and budget to hang out with like-minded souls to move the needle forward a few notches. For some these hackathons are a privilege and unquestionably the best days in the year.
Previous editions of hackathons
Madrid June 2019
Find out more about the winning corporate team (IBS Compass) addressing the problems in the airfreight industry related to scattered information, lack of timely feed of data and streamlined access to information.
See the hackathon in action through the lens of the camera
Geneva September 2018
Find out more about the winning team (Tata Consulting Services) which created a voice and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solution to automate the logistics of operation exceptions.
See the first cargo hackathon in action through the lens of the camera
