The event was part of the "Digital Testbed Air Cargo (DTAC)" project funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation and was organized by Fraunhofer IML. The aim of the conference was to provide a comprehensive 360-degree view of ONE Record – from strategic insights to specific technical implementations. Since January 1, 2026, "IATA ONE Record" has been the preferred IATA standard for data exchange in air cargo.

The morning program focused on establishing a common technical basis. It became clear why ONE Record is a central building block for the digitalization of air freight, how the standard is structured at the conceptual level, and which use cases can already be implemented. The introductory presentations highlighted the paradigm shift away from document-centric processes toward a common, data-centric information exchange along the entire transport chain. Representatives from IATA, airlines, freight forwarders, and technology providers emphasized that ONE Record creates the basis for greater transparency, automation, and collaboration in air cargo.

In the afternoon, the conference delved deeper into the content in two parallel sessions.

The "Business & Strategy Track" focused on organizational and strategic issues. The focus was on experience reports from initial implementations and a panel discussion on progress, challenges, and insights on the path to introducing ONE Record.

At the same time, the "Technical Track" offered detailed insights into data models, programming interfaces, security concepts, and open-source approaches such as the NE:ONE server software. Concrete examples were used to demonstrate in a practical way how ONE Record can be technically implemented and further developed. In both areas, specific use cases were presented, ranging from so-called direct-to-dock processes to the replacement of existing messaging formats and AI-supported applications based on ONE Record data.

"The conference facilitated an open exchange on existing issues by bringing together business, IT, and technical perspectives. The exchange made it clear that ONE Record has a solid technical foundation but also needs to be continuously developed to ensure broad acceptance. The further focus of our ongoing research work in the DTAC project is therefore now on developing and establishing robust business cases in order to anchor the use of ONE Record in companies in the long term. Increasing practical application is crucial in order to drive forward the benefits, scalability, and further development of the standard in an evidence-based manner," emphasized Dr. Harald Sieke, Head of Aviation Logistics, during the event.

About the project:

The "Digital Testbed Air Cargo" is a research project funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation with a total volume of over €18 million, which develops digital applications for air cargo. The aim is to create a more efficient transport chain through better networking and digital process optimization. Following the first project phase (09/2021–09/2024), the second phase is currently running until August 2026. The project is being implemented in close cooperation with existing consortium partners from the air freight industry, including Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig, and Munich airports, as well as companies such as CHI Deutschland Cargo Handling GmbH, DB Schenker, Lufthansa Cargo AG, and Sovereign Speed GmbH.