As one of the world’s largest and most complex cargo markets, the US plays a critical role in global supply chains, connecting businesses across continents.
“The Americas is very much a focal point for Awery now and for the future. As a Europe-based organisation, our customer base has historically been skewed towards Europe and the Middle East, but as we celebrate our 15th year, we are looking at increasing our presence in the US,” Tristan Koch, Chief Commercial Officer, Awery Aviation Software, revealed.
Recent trends, including the rise of e-commerce, the need for enhanced data security, and increased pressure for regulatory compliance, are pushing the industry towards digital transformation. Stakeholders, from airlines and logistics companies to General Sales and Service Agents (GSSAs), are seeking innovative solutions to meet growing demands for efficiency, speed, and flexibility in a fast-evolving landscape.
“As part of working with new clients, we have learnt a lot about the US air cargo industry and have been adapting the tech to meet those markets as best we can. We have spent a lot of time attending industry events in the U.S., connecting with new businesses, and receiving feedback.”
“It’s immensely important to us to understand how we can best support American air cargo businesses, and to understand our role in the wider industry”.
Regulatory environment
Compliance with the complex rules in the US. is a cornerstone of Awery’s strategy. The air cargo sector operates under a labyrinth of federal, state, and local regulations, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) playing a pivotal role. Ensuring that Awery’s systems align with TSA guidelines is critical to maintaining the trust and operational efficiency of their clients.
“The recent announcements regarding foreign carriers into the US only further highlight the amount of detail required to remain compliant with TSA regulations,” said Koch.
He explained that adherence to these standards requires the seamless and secure exchange of information between stakeholders.
“The easiest way to ensure this? Investing in digital systems,” he emphasised. Koch explained how technology provides a reliable solution to the complexity of regulations.
“The air cargo industry needs digital systems to allow communication between players in supply chains, with necessary information quickly accessible and without causing delays in shipments. New regulations can be complicated and time-consuming, requiring vast amounts of intricate data; technology is able to make this painless for people through flexible and integrated platforms.”
US trends
The American air cargo market is in a state of transformation, driven by a combination of evolving regulations and digitalisation.
According to Koch, this shift presents both challenges and opportunities: “Having spent eight years at American Airlines Cargo earlier in my career, I’ve seen first-hand how the industry has changed. I’ve experienced the issues brought about by slow digital adoption, and how this has changed in recent years.
“We are now seeing that the US market is beginning to adopt digital tools, giving customers a wider choice and better user experience.”
One of the key drivers of this trend is the balance between supply and demand in the US air cargo industry.
“By providing additional digital distribution channels, airlines and General Sales and Service Agents (GSSAs) can reach new markets across Europe and Asia,” Koch added.
“Due to changing regulatory environments, trade lanes may move around a bit,” he noted.
“We don’t expect to see any slowdown in the growth of e-commerce; however, due to tensions between China and the US, it’s uncertain where these trade lanes will be.”
