More of Cathay's customers are now able to plan, book, confirm and manage shipments in real-time through Cathay Cargo's Click & Ship booking platform with CargoWise.

Cathay said recently, that this partnership with CargoWise allowed the carrier to provide real-time shipment management to DHL Global Forwarding and DSV.

The Hong Kong flag carrier noted that the data integration with CargoWise, and its direct links with other forwarders is part of Cathay Cargo's move to improve customer-centricity and push its digital strategy.

"At Cathay Cargo, we know how important it is to move alongside our customers, and we are delighted to roll out our booking inventory to more of our global forwarder partners and others on the CargoWise platform," said Tom Owen, Cathay Director Cargo.

"By embracing new technologies, digitalising our systems and using our own API, it proves that we are working hard towards our vision of becoming the world’s most customer-centric air-cargo service brand," he added.

Scott McCorquodale, head of airline connectivity at WiseTech Global, noted that CargoWise customers now have full visibility of Cathay Cargo's schedules and flight availability with real time API connections to efficiently book and subsequently manage their shipments.

"More than just e-booking, the direct data integration enables research and booking, with the flexibility to subsequently modify bookings as needed," he said.

Max Sauberschwarz, head of Global Air Freight at DHL Global Forwarding, noted the importance of digital integration with carriers to enhance its own services.

"Implementing digital links like APIs improves data exchange and booking processes, making our services more convenient and efficient. This, in turn, enhances service quality and efficiency for our customers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering excellence in every aspect of our operations," Sauberschwarz said.

For his part, Mads Ravn, executive vice president and Head of Global Air Freight at DSV, said DSV believe that "digitalisation is the only sustainable way forward."

"We will all become more efficient and, in return, grow faster with those investing in API," Ravn said.

Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo said it will continue to work with its forwarding partners to offer its inventory and booking via their own systems as part of its digitalisation journey.

Forwarders interested in accessing the API connection will soon be able to do so via GLS's API sandbox, which will be released in the first quarter of 2024. 

"The successful implementation of more of these API integrations shows its growing popularity with our forwarding partners, and we look forward to extending this enhanced experience to more of our customers in the coming months," Owen of Cathay added.