02. October 2023

Data sharing is driving logistics’ evolution

At Riege Software’s two-day meeting in Dusseldorf last week, attended by 90 industry experts, the focus was on how technical innovations combined with targeted human action can take the air freight industry to the next level. In his highly interesting presentation, speaker Niko Hossain (NH), Managing Director, Lobster Logistics Cloud, drew on far-reaching historical analogies to illustrate prospects for today’s industry. CargoForwarder Global (CFG) spoke with the manager following his presentation. Here is the outcome:

At the Riege Software event, Niko Hossain warned against a silo mentality and pleaded for data sharing models of cooperation – picture: hs/CFG

CFG: What does the Cambrian explosion that occurred more than 500 million years ago have to do with the new age of digitization?

NH: Change doesn't occur linearly; it often comes in waves, much like innovation. Consider the Cambrian explosion in the history of life on Earth. For countless years, nothing significant happened, but then, during the Cambrian period, life suddenly flourished into a diverse ecosystem. Similarly, in the digital realm, we've seen transformative waves. After centuries of gradual progress, the internet emerged, followed by online commerce, the advent of social media, and now, artificial intelligence. Digital logistics mirrors the diversity of natural life, with countless apps and solutions working in harmony to create shared value. It's about coexistence and creating synergies to grow a common ecosystem. This mirrors the collaboration between Riege Software and logistics.cloud.

CFG: Does data sharing add value?

NH: Absolutely. Data sharing multiplies value by creating additional worth with each sharing instance among interested and authorized parties. Unlike physical objects, data can be shared without the risk of being lost, damaged, or consumed during the process. In the future, the value of data will likely surpass that of physical assets.

CFG: Is the logistics industry ready for data sharing?

NH: Indeed, more than half of companies now view data sharing as not only crucial, but also as the bedrock of their value creation. While siloed thinking may persist, it is gradually eroding.

CFG: Are SMEs able and willing to share data?

NH: SMEs may face challenges in data sharing due to limited resources and systems. They might lack a suitable API strategy or user-friendly tools like the no-code data integration platform, Lobster-data. However, their readiness is often high, as practicality is a priority. We can assist SMEs with an efficient and cost-effective plug-and-play approach to overcome these barriers.

CFG: How can you contribute to innovation in the industry?

NH: Our role is to empower companies like Riege by enabling them to focus on enhancing their TMS's market-lead, rather than diverting resources towards ground-level infrastructure for data exchange. We bridge gaps between companies and systems, aiding them in scaling their operations in the digital era. By leveraging a unified communication platform in logistics, we facilitate value creation and innovation in the industry. With one single connection and at the click of a button.