The Air Cargo Digital Revolution: How cargo.one is Elevating the Industry

The air cargo industry, once bogged down by manual processes and outdated systems, is undergoing a digital revolution. At the forefront of this transformation is cargo.one, a cutting-edge platform that brings efficiency, transparency, and real-time data.

Founded in 2017 by Moritz Claussen, Oliver Neumann and Mike Rötgers, with a vision for digitally transforming air freight procurement, cargo.one has become the go-to solution for airlines and freight forwarders alike, streamlining operations and propelling the industry into the digital age.
Air Cargo Update had an exclusive opportunity to sit down with the Co-CEO of cargo.one, Moritz Claussen, to delve deeper into the platform’s impact on the industry and its plans for the future. Claussen provided valuable insights into cargo.one’s mission, innovative strategies, and ongoing commitment to elevating air cargo logistics.

Digitalization Journey
“We founded the company in 2017,” Claussen recalls. “My two co-founders and I have spent all of our careers building technology for different sectors. We come from finance and gaming backgrounds. And in 2017, we looked for a new challenge and we started to look at logistics because we thought logistics, being very global, being just a really important part of the world’s background, essentially needed that digitalization.”
This digital journey began with a simple realization: The air cargo industry was still reliant on outdated, manual processes. Claussen explains, “We reached out to freight forwarding companies and airlines and said, ‘We think your space is super interesting. Can we spend two or three days with you and just observe exactly what you’re doing?'”
Their exploration led them to Frankfurt Airport, where they witnessed firsthand the inefficiencies plaguing the industry. “We realized that the way air cargo was being booked involved picking up the phone and calling multiple airlines, waiting for quotes, sometimes for days,” Claussen recounts. “This archaic process stood in stark contrast to the seamless online booking experiences we had grown accustomed to in other sectors.”
Determined to bridge this gap, cargo.one embarked on a mission to digitalize the booking process, forging partnerships with airlines and empowering freight forwarders with instant access to real-time offers. “We work with around 55 airlines globally, including industry giants like Qatar Airways, Air France KLM, Lufthansa, and American Airlines,” Claussen proudly states. “And we serve 20,000 freight forwarders, enabling them to quote and book cargo capacity digitally in real time.”

Empowering Through Integration
At the heart of cargo.one’s success lies its robust technological infrastructure, built upon the best quality real-time integrations with airlines’ core cargo systems. Claussen elucidates, “Our platform provides a live view of availability, pricing, and schedules, enabling instant bookings and confirmations. Gone are the days of static spreadsheets and delayed responses; we operate on the forefront of real-time data.”
By harnessing the power of APIs and tailored integrations, cargo.one ensures agility and responsiveness, empowering clients to make informed decisions swiftly. “Our goal is to provide a seamless experience,” Claussen emphasizes. “Whether you’re a freight forwarder searching for available capacity or an airline optimizing operations, our platform delivers actionable insights in real-time.”

Unleashing the Potential of Data
cargo.one doesn’t just make things easier; it’s a game-changer. By harnessing data analytics, it helps airlines and freight forwarders improve how they work. In today’s data-driven world, cargo.one is a leader, using its wealth of market knowledge to help airlines and freight forwarders operate at their best. Claussen explains, “Data is the lifeblood of our platform. Through cargo.one360, we offer actionable intelligence, enabling stakeholders to refine their strategies and enhance efficiency.”
By analyzing millions of offers generated on the platform each month, cargo.one empowers clients with compliant granular insights into market dynamics, pricing trends, and customer preferences. “Our goal is to enable personalized offerings tailored to each customer’s unique needs,” Claussen explains. “Whether it’s providing airlines with the tools to revenue optmize or route planning for freight forwarders, our data-driven approach drives tangible results. This enables informed decision-making and fosters greater efficiency throughout the supply chain.”
Driving Industry Growth
Reflecting on cargo.one’s exponential growth, Claussen emphasizes the platform’s role in driving industry-wide digital adoption. “From early adopters to late majority, airlines have recognized the imperative of embracing digital solutions,” he asserts. “And cargo.one has emerged as the leading facilitator of this transformation, helping airlines navigate the complexities of digitalization and unlock new opportunities.”
As cargo.one continues to scale its operations, the impact on the air cargo industry is palpable. Claussen reveals, “We facilitate tens of thousands of bookings monthly, driving exponential growth year over year. From established markets in Europe and North America to emerging hubs in Asia, our platform is reshaping the landscape of air freight.”
Claussen acknowledges the role of external factors, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, in accelerating digital adoption within the industry. “The pandemic served as a catalyst for change,” he observes. “Airlines recognized the imperative of digitalization for survival, leading to a surge in demand for our services.”
As cargo.one charts a course for the future, Claussen remains optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead. “We’ve transitioned from early adopters to the mainstream, with airlines across the globe embracing digital distribution,” he asserts. “Our focus now is on driving continued innovation, empowering our partners to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.”
In quantifying the impact of cargo.one, Claussen paints a vivid picture of transformation. “Imagine a process that once involved endless emails and phone calls,” he muses. “Now, with cargo.one, it’s as simple as a few clicks. Time is saved, costs are reduced, and valuable resources are freed up to focus on strategic initiatives.”

cargo.one’s Impact on Air Cargo Booking
As cargo.one solidifies its position as the digital enabler for the air cargo industry, Claussen sheds more light on the pioneering features that have propelled the platform to prominence. He reminisces on the early days of cargo.one, recalling the visionary airlines that embraced digitalization from the outset. “Lufthansa, Finnair, and ANA were among the first to recognize the transformative potential of our platform,” Claussen recalls. “Their forward-thinking approach set the stage for widespread adoption across the industry.”
The transition from manual booking processes to instant digital transactions was not without its challenges, Claussen acknowledges. “Implementing instant booking across multiple airlines posed logistical and technical hurdles,” he explains. “Each airline operates on distinct systems, necessitating tailored integrations to ensure seamless connectivity.”
Despite the complexities, cargo.one’s commitment to innovation prevailed, ushering in a new era of efficiency and convenience for users.
From the perspective of freight forwarders, the impacts of cargo.one’s end to end quoting and booking functionalities are profound. Claussen elucidates, “Prior to cargo.one, freight forwarders navigated a labyrinth of emails and phone calls to secure capacity, a laborious process fraught with delays and uncertainty.”
By contrast, cargo.one streamlines the entire capacity discovery and booking experience into a matter of seconds. “With cargo.one, freight forwarders gain instant digital access to offers from dozens of airlines with a single search,” Claussen explains. “Gone are the days of manual inquiries and lengthy response times; now, bookings are finalized in mere seconds.”
The tangible benefits of cargo.one extend beyond time savings, Claussen emphasizes. “Freight forwarders experience a dramatic increase in productivity,” he notes. “Tasks that once consumed hours can now be completed in minutes, allowing personnel to focus on value-added activities and strategic initiatives.” Additionally, the cost savings associated with streamlined operations are significant, further enhancing the bottom line for businesses.

Strategic Partnerships
At the heart of cargo.one’s success lies its commitment to forging strategic partnerships with airlines and enterprise forwarders around the globe. For example, Claussen underscores the company’s mission to onboard every carrier onto the platform, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and accessibility. “Our mission as a platform is to have every carrier on the platform,” says Claussen, highlighting cargo.one’s dedication to providing freight forwarders with a comprehensive selection of options for their shipping needs.
But it’s not just about quantity; cargo.one also prioritizes the quality of its partnerships. Claussen stresses the significance of including both industry giants and niche players, ensuring that freight forwarders have access to a diverse range of supply options with a single search. Moreover, cargo.one’s approach goes beyond mere inclusion; the company’s dedicated teams work closely with airlines to facilitate their transition to digitalization, providing guidance and support every step of the way. By helping airlines leverage the full potential of the platform, cargo.one enables them to optimize their offer quality, raise performance and stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly dynamic and competitive market.

Product Offerings
cargo.one’s commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its users is reflected in its range of product offerings. From the free-to-use cargo.one platform to the advanced features of cargo.one pro and cargo.one for enterprise, the company provides solutions tailored to the requirements of freight forwarders of all sizes.
“cargo.one as a platform has always been free for freight forwarders,” Claussen explains, highlighting the accessibility of the basic platform. This free version allows freight forwarders to perform essential tasks such as searching for available capacity, comparing options, and making bookings—all within a user-friendly interface.
For those seeking additional functionality and customization options, cargo.one offers pro—a premium version with advanced features such as the ability to use different CASS numbers, quote and book agent to agent rates instantly, leverage advanced rate management, and build workflows and collaborate with team members. Claussen notes that cargo.one pro is incredibly popular among mid-tier freight forwarders, providing them with a joyful and robust solution to meet their growing needs.
At the enterprise level, cargo.one for enterprise offers fully customizable solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with larger freight forwarders’ trade management systems. Through its comprehensive and high quality API suite, cargo.one equips enterprise forwarders with its unrivaled market offer data and advanced quotation and rate management features directly within the forwarders’ existing workflows, eliminating the need for duplication and streamlining their operations.

Steering the Future
As cargo.one continues to push the boundaries of digital air freight, Claussen remains focused and optimistic about the future. “There’s so much to come,” he says, hinting at the company’s ongoing efforts to further enhance the platform via its targeted innovation. One area of focus is its smart tools to help freight forwarders generate accurate end to end quotations for customers at speed —a capability that can do much to revolutionize performance and efficiency across the air cargo industry.
By providing freight forwarders with instant access to often dynamic pricing data, as well as all relevant additional local cost components such as trucking, TSA fees, and customs clearance costs, cargo.one can empower them to provide accurate quotes to their customers more competitively than ever before. This increased transparency and efficiency not only benefits freight forwarders but also enhances the overall customer experience, leading to greater satisfaction and loyalty.
In conclusion, cargo.one’s vision for the future is one of continued and meaningful innovation and growth. By fostering strategic partnerships, expanding its product offerings, and embracing emerging technologies, cargo.one remains at the forefront of the air cargo industry, driving progress and delivering new value to its users every step of the way. As Claussen aptly puts it, “Digital is here to stay,” and cargo.one is leading the charge toward a more efficient, connected, and sustainable future for air cargo logistics.