Singapore Airlines has gone live with an integrated cargo management system (ICMS) powered by IBS Software’s iCargo platform.

The ICMS is an initiative to future-proof the airline’s core cargo platform by eliminating disparate cargo systems and bringing in cloud technology to transform cargo operations and customer delivery.

IBS iCargo’s ICMS is a single integrated cargo application for business users in Singapore and overseas, as well as a seamless interface with partners including general sales agents, ground handling agents and freight forwarders, simplifying end-to-end operations.

Enhanced data quality and insights also allow Singapore Airlines to make real-time, data-driven decisions across its sales, operations and finance processes, while ensuring compliance with international regulations.

Since the ICMS went live in August, approximately 1500 users across sales, operations and finance industries have benefited from the system, with iCargo enabling more than 24,000 flights, creating 202,000 bookings and 192,000 airway bills, as well as processing and responding to 8.5 million incoming messages.

IBS’s CDx consulting and digital transformation business provided user acceptance testing (UAT) support to Singapore Airlines. The UAT focused on business process transformation and change management efficiency, with inputs from more than 100 users across the world, and end-to-end testing involving more than 20 upstream and downstream messaging systems.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the need for digital transformation, especially given the important role that air freight plays in critical supply chains, as well as the need for greater supply chain visibility to improve resilience,” said Chin Yau Seng, senior vice president at Singapore Airlines. “IBS Software’s iCargo platform is a key element in our digitalisation efforts to enable us to serve customers even better, respond more quickly to changes in the marketplace and improve work processes, while allowing us to stay compliant and up to date with global industry standards and initiatives.”

Ashok Rajan, head of cargo and logistics at IBS Software, added: “It is an honour to work with Singapore Airlines, a team that recognises the transformative impact of digitalising air cargo and is dedicated to creating innovative customer experiences that will enable it to capitalise on the air cargo opportunities ahead. We are beyond excited to continue to work with Singapore Airlines on the ICMS to deliver even further capabilities and business benefits in the future.”

The second phase of the implementation is planned for March 2023. This includes migrating the mail module, implementing mail revenue accounting, and rolling out capabilities in sales, operations and cargo revenue accounting modules.

ICargo supports end-to-end business functions such as cargo reservations, rating, manifesting, import and export operations, warehouse management, revenue accounting, air mail handling, and revenue management of cargo carrying airlines and ground handlers. It follows the air cargo industry’s best practices and is compliant with global industry standards and initiatives, such as Cargo iQ, C-XML, OneRecord, e-AWB and e-freight in general.

Singapore-based IBS Software is a SaaS provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for the aviation, tour and cruise, and hospitality industries. Its products for the aviation industry cover fleet and crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programmes, staff travel, and air cargo management. IBS also runs a real-time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels.

For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board. The CDx business focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives of its customers, leveraging its domain knowledge, digital technologies and engineering.