How Real-Time Cargo Tracking is Reshaping Global Air Logistics: A Deep Dive into dnata's Latest Innovation

The aviation cargo industry handles staggering volumes every year. dnata alone processes approximately 3 million tonnes of cargo annually across 126 airports worldwide, serving over 300 airline customers. Yet for decades, tracking shipments in real-time has remained a logistical nightmare—cargo moves through multiple warehouses, ground vehicles, and aircraft, with visibility often fragmenting at each transition point.

The Problem: Invisible Assets in a Connected World

Traditional cargo tracking relied on manual scanning and batch updates, creating blind spots that cost the industry billions in lost equipment, misplaced shipments, and inefficient asset management. Air carriers operated with incomplete information about their Unit Load Devices (ULDs)—the containers and pallets that bundle cargo together. Without real-time visibility, they couldn’t optimize fleet utilization, struggled with equipment losses, or accurately forecast capacity needs.

For dnata, which handles 681,000 aircraft movements and processes 2.9 million tonnes of cargo annually (as of 2019-20), this inefficiency directly impacted operational costs and customer satisfaction. The company needed a scalable solution that could track assets across its sprawling global warehouse network.

The Solution: Bluetooth-Powered Visibility

Descartes Systems Group introduced a breakthrough approach: Core Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) readers deployed across warehouses and handling facilities. These readers capture movement data from ULDs equipped with BLE tags, creating a continuous tracking network that operates both in-air and on-ground.

Here’s what makes this technology transformative:

Real-Time Location Intelligence: Cargo visibility extends beyond basic “where is it?” to precise asset location, updated continuously as shipments move through the supply chain.

Environmental Monitoring: Beyond location, the system captures sensor data—temperature, humidity, movement patterns—critical for temperature-sensitive cargo like pharmaceuticals or fresh produce.

Fleet Optimization: Carriers gain predictive insights into equipment placement, reducing ULD fleet losses and eliminating unnecessary leasing costs. The data helps match capacity with inventory in real-time.

Scalability: The Descartes Global Logistics Network™ creates a collaborative ecosystem where tracking reaches across multiple airports and handling partners, dramatically expanding coverage without requiring each facility to invest independently.

dnata’s Real-World Impact

For dnata specifically, the deployment across its cargo warehouses marks a shift toward autonomous, data-driven operations. The company can now track dnata tracking systems that previously operated in silos, creating unified visibility for customers and internal teams alike. This translates to:

• Faster shipment visibility for airline customers
• Reduced operational friction as cargo moves between destinations
• Lower asset losses through improved inventory management
• Competitive differentiation in a price-sensitive industry

Why This Matters Beyond dnata

The adoption signals a larger industry trend: cargo logistics is embracing IoT and real-time data. As supply chains become increasingly complex—with e-commerce explosion driving parcel volumes and just-in-time inventory management becoming standard—old tracking methods simply don’t cut it anymore.

The BLE network approach is particularly elegant because it doesn’t require massive infrastructure overhaul. Existing facilities deploy readers; existing equipment gets low-power tags. The system scales through network effects—more readers deployed means better coverage for everyone participating.

The Broader Logistics Picture

dnata’s move reflects what leading logistics providers worldwide recognize: visibility is the new competitive advantage. Companies that can offer real-time, transparent tracking earn customer loyalty and operational efficiency simultaneously. The data generated becomes increasingly valuable for predictive analytics, route optimization, and demand forecasting.

For air cargo specifically—an industry moving $10+ trillion in goods annually—even marginal efficiency improvements compound into substantial cost savings and reliability gains.

The deployment of Descartes’ tracking solution across dnata’s global network demonstrates that even in traditionally fragmented industries, standardized technology solutions can create systemic improvements. As more handlers and carriers adopt similar systems, the entire air cargo ecosystem becomes more transparent, responsive, and efficient.