Abstract:
The recent advances in technology and innovations are poised to impact air cargo
operations because the distribution of goods requires a seamless supply chain system that
needs automation to coordinate air cargo flow properly. The response to issues about the
fourth industrial revolution involving ICT and IoT technology applications is becoming
unavoidable. Nevertheless, it has been observed that the air cargo logistics industry has
been reluctant to adopt new technologies for their businesses. This study examines the
effects of adopting and implementing emerging technological applications in the air cargo
logistics industry in South Africa. Three hundred and seventy-three (373) stakeholders
were sampled for data collection by random technique at the cargo terminal of OR Tambo
International Airport. The data were collected by a questionnaire administered to the
respondents with instructions to rank the information provided in order of significance. The
study adopted exploratory factor analysis to analyse data. The study found that applying
technology in the air cargo logistics industry promotes efficient operations, improves
warehousing and enhances cargo delivery services for customer satisfaction. The study
implies the need to improve the responsiveness of adopting emerging technological
applications in the air cargo logistics industry in South Africa.
