DB Schenker Expands Digital Air Freight Capabilities through cargo.one Partnership

Introduction: A Game-Changing Move in Digital Logistics

In a significant development for the air freight industry, DB Schenker, a global leader in logistics services, has announced a strategic partnership with cargo.one, a cutting-edge digital air freight procurement platform. This collaboration marks a substantial leap forward in DB Schenker's digital transformation journey, expanding its live capacity access from nine airlines to over 50 globally. As we approach the annual peak season in air transport, this move is set to revolutionize how freight forwarders identify and book suitable capacities for their customers' ad-hoc shipments.

The timing of this partnership is crucial, considering the following industry trends:

• Increasing demand for rapid, short-dated sourcing of air freight capacities
• Rising importance of real-time market prices
• Growing e-commerce demand for air transport
• Ongoing global supply chain disruptions

These factors have collectively heightened the need for more efficient, digitalized solutions in the freight forwarding industry. DB Schenker's collaboration with cargo.one is a direct response to these market demands, promising to deliver enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and user-friendliness in air freight procurement.

The Power of Digital Transformation in Logistics

DB Schenker's decision to partner with cargo.one is a testament to the company's commitment to leading the digital transformation of the freight forwarding industry. With over 150 years of business expertise, DB Schenker recognizes the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

Thorsten Meincke, Global Board Member for Air & Ocean Freight at DB Schenker, emphasized the customer-centric approach behind this move: "We continue to digitalize transportation by establishing solutions that are highly demanded on the market. By boosting our access to available airline capacities, we save time for our customers and make processes faster, smoother, and more efficient for them."

This digital expansion is not just about increasing the number of airline connections. It's about fundamentally transforming how air freight capacity is procured, managed, and utilized. By automating and optimizing processes across a wider network of carriers, DB Schenker is setting a new standard for efficiency and customer service in the logistics industry.

The Role of cargo.one in DB Schenker's Digital Strategy

cargo.one brings to the table a state-of-the-art air freight procurement platform that perfectly aligns with DB Schenker's digital ambitions. As a market-leading technology provider, cargo.one acts as a digital connector between airlines and freight forwarders, offering a seamless interface for capacity booking and management.

Moritz Claussen, Founder and Co-CEO of cargo.one, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: "DB Schenker has chosen cargo.one to further speed up its path to powerful digital transformation. We are thrilled to provide a state-of-the-art air freight procurement platform that boosts efficiency, accuracy, and user-friendliness for our new partner."

The collaboration is expected to yield several key benefits:

• Enhanced efficiency in air freight capacity sourcing
• Improved accuracy in pricing and availability information
• Greater user-friendliness for DB Schenker's team and customers
• Access to a continuously growing network of airline partners

These advantages position DB Schenker to elevate customer satisfaction and sharpen its competitive edge in the global logistics market.

Expanding Digital Horizons: From 9 to 50+ Airlines

Prior to this partnership, DB Schenker had established direct API interfaces with nine airlines from various regions, including Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. This initial digital integration laid the groundwork for the company's broader digital strategy in air freight procurement.

Now, with the cargo.one collaboration, DB Schenker has dramatically expanded its digital reach. The logistics giant gains access to over 50 airlines, marking a more than five-fold increase in its digital airline connections. This substantial expansion opens up new possibilities for capacity sourcing, route optimization, and competitive pricing.

The significance of this expansion cannot be overstated. In an industry where timing and availability are crucial, having real-time access to such a vast network of airlines provides DB Schenker with a considerable advantage. It enables the company to respond more quickly and effectively to customer needs, especially for time-sensitive or specialized shipments.

Seamless Integration and Customer Experience

One of the most impressive aspects of this digital expansion is how seamlessly it integrates with DB Schenker's existing systems. The company's digital infrastructure for air freight is built on an integrated landscape of six systems, all of which come together in the customer-facing platform, DB SCHENKER connect.

For DB Schenker's customers, this means that all the benefits of the expanded airline network are available immediately, without any changes to the familiar user interface. Customers can continue to use DB SCHENKER connect to receive rate offers and track the latest status updates of their shipments, now with the added advantage of access to a much broader range of spot capacities and trade lanes.

This seamless integration is a testament to DB Schenker's customer-centric approach to digital transformation. By enhancing capabilities without disrupting the user experience, the company ensures that its customers can immediately benefit from the expanded network without facing a learning curve or adjustment period.

The Broader Impact on the Logistics Industry

DB Schenker's partnership with cargo.one is not just a win for the company and its customers; it has broader implications for the entire logistics industry. This move sets a new benchmark for digital integration and efficiency in air freight procurement, potentially inspiring other players in the industry to accelerate their own digital transformation efforts.

Christa Koenen, Global Board Member for Information Technology and Digitalization (CIO/CDO) at DB Schenker, highlighted the industry-wide benefits of such digital initiatives: "Efficiency gains accomplished through IT help to make the entire logistics industry more resource efficient. The more carriers DB Schenker connects to digitally, and thus automates and optimizes processes, the better the final choice for our customers will be."

This perspective underscores the potential for digital transformation to drive not just individual company success, but also industry-wide improvements in efficiency, sustainability, and customer service. As more logistics providers embrace digital solutions, we can expect to see a ripple effect of positive changes across the global supply chain.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Digital Logistics

The partnership between DB Schenker and cargo.one is a clear indication of where the logistics industry is heading. As digital transformation continues to reshape the landscape of global trade, we can anticipate several trends to gain momentum:

• Increased adoption of AI and machine learning in capacity planning and route optimization
• Greater emphasis on real-time data analytics for decision-making
• Further integration of different modes of transport through digital platforms
• Enhanced focus on sustainability through more efficient resource utilization
• Continued growth of e-commerce and its influence on logistics operations

DB Schenker's move to expand its digital capabilities positions the company at the forefront of these trends. By embracing digital solutions and partnerships, the company is not just adapting to the changing landscape – it's actively shaping the future of logistics.

Conclusion: A New Era of Digital Efficiency in Air Freight

DB Schenker's partnership with cargo.one marks a significant milestone in the digitalization of air freight procurement. By expanding its network from 9 to over 50 airlines through a state-of-the-art digital platform, DB Schenker has dramatically enhanced its ability to serve customers efficiently and effectively.

This collaboration showcases the power of strategic partnerships in driving digital transformation. It demonstrates how traditional logistics giants can leverage the expertise of specialized technology providers to accelerate their digital journey and deliver enhanced value to customers.

As we move forward, the success of this partnership will likely inspire further digital initiatives across the logistics industry. For businesses relying on global supply chains, this means a future of more efficient, transparent, and responsive air freight services. The bar for digital capabilities in logistics has been raised, and we can expect to see continued innovation and transformation in the years to come.

At FreightAmigo, we are excited to see these developments in the industry. As a Digital Logistics Platform, we understand the importance of digital transformation in creating more efficient and effective supply chains. We continue to innovate and expand our Digital Logistics Solutions to help businesses navigate this evolving landscape and make the most of the opportunities presented by digital transformation in logistics.