Why cargo management still isn’t properly digital…yet (Part 2)

By Andrew Knott, Chief Technology Officer, Hermes Logistics Technologies

What actually works in practice

In Part 1, I explored why cargo still isn’t properly digital. The root cause isn’t a lack of technology, but a lack of alignment. As soon as one participant drops back to manual or document-based processes, the entire chain slows down.

So what actually works?

Large transformation programmes often look good on paper, but cargo operations are always live. “Big bang” rewrites carry risk and are difficult to execute without disruption.

What tends to work better is targeted, incremental change. Identifying a few clearly inefficient points, usually where paper, re‑keying or unstructured communication still exists, and fixing those first. Digitising a form, introducing structured messages or removing manual reconciliation often delivers immediate value and builds momentum.

SMEs aren’t as far behind as they think

There’s a common assumption that meaningful digitalisation requires large budgets or bespoke development. That hasn’t been true for some time.

Smaller operators often move faster because decisions are closer to the operation. Choosing platforms that are cloud‑based, integration‑friendly and designed to connect into wider ecosystems allows organisations to improve without rebuilding everything from scratch.live data flow.

Where we fit into this

At Hermes Logistics Technologies, we focus on ensuring that our:

• Data is structured, usable and event‑driven
• Platforms integrate cleanly via standard interfaces
• New capabilities can be introduced without disrupting live operations.

The ability to evolve gradually is critical. Digitalisation can only move forward if it supports operations, not if it puts them at risk.