01What it is about
REST/JSON APIs increasingly complement or replace EDI. Rate management, booking and tracking run via standard endpoints.
Digitalisation in logistics is not an end in itself. It creates transparency, reduces manual effort and makes processes scalable. What matters is not the technology but the business case: which problem is solved, which KPI improves, which return justifies the investment?
02Standards and players
Standards: DCSA (container shipping), IATA ONE Record (air cargo), Open Logistics Foundation. Identifiers: SCAC, IATA carrier codes, GS1.
Supply-chain digitalisation today is clearly interoperability-driven. Betting on open standards delivers reach and protects long-term investments. Proprietary silos only pay off when they bring clear differentiators — in most cases DCSA, IATA ONE Record or EDIFACT are the better choice.
03Enterprise rollout
Start with a clear use case (for example track & trace, eBL or CO₂ reporting). Build an MVP with a pilot partner, measure KPIs such as processing time, claim rate and data quality, and scale only after validation. Integration with existing ERP/TMS systems is typically the critical path.
Expect a change curve: new tools replace grown processes and require training, governance and clear roles. Budget explicit resources for data quality, monitoring and support on top of the software budget.