IATA - International Air Transport Association - Cargo iQ Smart Data

Introduction

Cargo iQ is a non-profit group supported by IATA and consists of around 80 major airlines, freight forwarders, air cargo companies and IT service providers worldwide. IATA Cargo iQ is looking to replace its existing benchmark reporting solution with a new platform. The benchmark reporting evaluates the performance of the entrepreneurs (members of Cargo IQ) along the various transport routes. The technology company Information Builders Switzerland AG was commissioned to provide a solution for Cargo iQ Smart Data and appointed iRIX Software Engineering AG as solution partner.

Cargo iQ members have agreed on a system for shipment planning and performance monitoring of air cargo based on common business processes and milestones. During the standardisation process, a Master Operating Plan (MOP) was developed to describe the air cargo supply chain with the first industry endorsed standard of the end-to-end air transport process. The Smart Data programme forms a three-stage project to provide a broader range of measurements, additional information on specific milestones and access to the Group's reporting platform. In the first module of the project, airport-to-airport data collection and benchmarking will be carried out and completed in spring 2017. For module two, iRIX is implementing the online portal that will allow members to query Cargo iQ data for tailored milestone reports on individual routes, timeframes and performance of their partners.

Challenge

Massive amounts of data - 2015: 10 million airport-to-airport and 5.5 million door-to-door measured shipments. Smart Data Project adds 110 million lines of performance data annually
Data basis - performance data is collected on a file basis and retransmitted if incomplete
Data quality - application should eliminate missing, incomplete and inconsistent data sets as not all data providers yet meet set standards
Existing reporting platform to be decommissioned - self-service analysis for Cargo iQ members to be facilitated
Build a cloud-based global service based on security and data safety features.

A web-based portal solution is implemented to address smart data targets in a European cloud environment. This was driven by the highly reliable and flexible Information Builders Technology, and realised by its business partner iRIX, which is specialised in the development of business analytics solutions. The collaboration between iRIX and Information Builders is a natural fit. The customer-centric spirit of both companies, as well as their experience in the market, gives IATA the best push for success by leveraging proven technology based on vertical experience in the logistics market. To meet all defined Smart Data project requirements, iRIX envisions one of the most flexible business analytics applications on the market. The solution is delivered as a cloud-based application to provide an easily accessible data hub for members and non-members to improve quality and process performance. The solution includes a dedicated customised receiving and validation process that stores data appropriately, and a sophisticated WebFOCUS analytics and presentation layer from Information Builders. This layer is also available to licensed users as a platform for other reporting and analysis within the IATA organisation, for other self-service analysis, or monthly reporting. The first glimpse of this solution was presented to IATA members at the World Cargo Symposium from 13 to 16 March 2017.

Solution

Exasol's proven in-memory technology is used to increase performance and speed up data analysis. Relevant data now flows automatically into a specially developed data warehouse schema and is only fed into the analytics platform after a check. WebFOCUS components are selected to create a multi-tab dashboard that provides deep insights into process performance for defined milestone deliverables to each Cargo iQ member.

Added value for the client

The cloud-based analytics portal application developed enables Cargo iQ members to:

Gain detailed insights into their shipping processes and thus derive concrete measures to improve milestone performance, both for airport-to-airport and door-to-door shipments.
Make comparisons with industry benchmarks along the standardised supply chain process chain are facilitated
Achieve further development of industry standardisation of the airfreight supply chain
Shift from static reporting to self-service analysis to shorten the information lifecycle and use insights for discussions with related business partners