Measuring Digitalization in Air Cargo Logistics: Development of an Evaluation Framework for Air Cargo Carriers

Background: The air cargo sector is undergoing significant digital transformation driven by increasing demands for operational efficiency, transparency, and real-time information exchange. Despite the growing importance of digitalization, substantial differences remain in the level of technological implementation and system integration among air cargo carriers, while sector-specific evaluation frameworks remain limited. Methods: This study develops an evaluation framework for measuring digitalization in air cargo logistics. The framework is based on five evaluation pillars and a structured set of indicators covering electronic documentation, real-time shipment tracking, automation, digital communication, technological capabilities, and system integration. A scoring-based assessment methodology was applied to three international air cargo carriers to enable comparative evaluation of their digital maturity. Results: The assessment revealed substantial differences in digitalization among the evaluated carriers, indicating that higher levels of system integration, automation, and real-time data utilization revealed substantial differences in digital maturity among the evaluated carriers. Conclusions: The proposed framework provides a structured, sector-specific approach for assessing digitalization in air cargo logistics. It contributes to existing research by enabling systematic comparison of digital maturity among air cargo carriers while providing a practical benchmarking and decision-support tool for digital transformation initiatives.