Qatar Airways Cargo has begun implementing a worldwide digital programme to replace paper-based ramp operations with real-time workflows, aiming to increase accuracy, reduce ground times, and enhance visibility across its handling network.
Qatar Airways Cargo has begun rolling out a global programme to digitise ramp operations, replacing paper-based loading instructions with a connected, real-time workflow intended to tighten accuracy, speed turnarounds and improve visi...
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bility across ground handling.
At the heart of the initiative is a new Ramp Offload and Load Supervision (ROLS) tool that digitises unit load device (ULD) checks, records loading confirmations instantly and transmits status updates to Load Control. According to Logistics Manager and Air Cargo Week, the system uses QR-code scanning to verify ULD identity, delivers 100% reconciliation of loads and provides live operational data to supervisors and control centres. SDCE and STAT Times add that ROLS also offers service-level monitoring and features designed to reduce tail tipping and other handling errors.
The carrier presented the programme as a component of a wider Digital Cargo Vision that already includes e‑bookings, paperless shipment processing and automated warehouse solutions. “As the world’s leading air cargo carrier, we believe that digital transformation is not just a strategic priority – it is a core mindset guiding how we lead innovation in the Cargo industry,” said Mark Drusch, chief officer cargo.
Qatar Airways Cargo and several trade outlets describe the shift as intended to cut paperwork, raise loading precision and shorten ground times for freighter and bellyhold operations. Military Aerospace and AJOT report the carrier expects faster reconciliations and instant status visibility to reduce delays that stem from manual reconciliation and lost documentation.
Industry observers say the move follows a broader trend in air logistics toward digital-first ramp management to improve safety and compliance while meeting tighter scheduling demands. By centralising load data and offering real-time oversight, the technology aims to give handlers and airlines a single source of truth for ULD inventories and loading status, a capability providers and ground handlers increasingly demand as volumes and complexity grow.
Qatar Airways Cargo has framed the rollout as global, with media outlets noting the tool applies across the carrier’s handling network rather than being limited to a single hub. The company has not published a detailed public timetable for full deployment or disclosed which ground-handling partners or third‑party systems ROLS will integrate with; press coverage emphasises the expected operational benefits rather than commercial or technical specifics.
As airlines and handlers pursue paperless operations, the effectiveness of new ramp systems will depend on consistent adoption by handling agents, robust integration with load control systems and training on new procedures. Qatar Airways Cargo’s announcement places the carrier among those accelerating investment in digital ground handling; whether the programme delivers measurable reductions in turnaround times and handling incidents will become clear as ROLS is adopted across more stations.
Source: Noah Wire Services
