Cathay Cargo takes home two wins at Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2025

Its Cargo Connect app digitises workflows and elevates operations whilst the HeavyPro solution enhances the efficiency, safety, and speed of heavyweight shipments.

Cathay Cargo, the cargo line of business for Cathay, has received two major wins in the prestigious Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards 2025 for Cargo Connect, which unifies data sources and manual processes onto a single, powerful digital interface, and its innovative HeavyPro, which has enhanced the efficiency, safety, and speed of handling heavyweight shipments.

Cargo Connect, which was awarded in the Digital - Airline category, addresses the critical need for efficient and accurate cargo handling by transforming frontline cargo operations.

Amongst the app’s key innovations include real-time operation data sharing, digital checklists and documentation, secure communication tools, and offline capabilities for seamless data capture even in ramp areas with intermittent connectivity. Its intuitive interface ensures rapid adoption and minimises training time for diverse frontline staff, including Cathay Cargo’s ground handling agents around the world.

Cargo Connect aims to drastically reduce paper usage and its associated inefficiencies, significantly improve data accuracy and timeliness, and enhance communication and collaboration amongst teams to improve on-time performance and customer satisfaction.

Since its launch to the Hong Kong team and subsequent expansion to global users, the app has delivered exceptional results. For the Hong Kong team, there is a 46.9% paper reduction and 6% efficiency gain, following the elimination of processing times for tedious handwritten and digital form communications and documentations for digitalised checklists and centralised storage.

Furthermore, organised evidence storage by log position has also made quick and targeted investigation possible. These quantifiable results and skipping of manual steps have demonstrated a significant return on investment and a substantial improvement in operational efficiency for the company.

“The in-house development of Cargo Connect has been a strategic advantage. Our agile development process allows us to quickly incorporate user feedback, adapt to changing needs, and continuously improve the platform. This flexibility is crucial in the dynamic air freight industry,” Cathay Cargo said.

Meanwhile, HeavyPro, which earned Cathay Cargo the accolade in the Automation - Airline category, streamlines the process of approving and managing outsized or heavy cargo shipments by automating the technical calculations required for planning the secure transport of outsized or heavy cargo.

It generates precise loading diagrams that show how and where the shipment should be secured with restraint straps. This information is crucial for ensuring the safety and stability of heavy cargo during transport.

At the same time, the app significantly speeds up the process of creating restraint diagrams, which previously took around 90 minutes for a 20-tonne aircraft engine. It also integrates with its frontline operation app to forward loading instructions directly to the ramp coordinator's device, eliminating the need for printed diagrams and streamlining operations.

Since its launch, HeavyPro has positioned Cathay Cargo as a digital leader in the air cargo industry. The app has drastically reduced the time required to get a decision from nine hours to just three hours. It has also reinforced Cathay Cargo's commitment to safety by ensuring that every heavyweight shipment is carefully reviewed and planned to meet stringent safety standards.

HeavyPro's digital solutions have also streamlined cargo operations, saving time and improving efficiency for loading teams across Cathay Cargo's network.

“[It] exemplifies how technology can transform traditional processes, making them quicker, safer, and more efficient. The solution is developed using an agile approach, underscoring our commitment to innovative and efficient development methodologies,” the company said.

Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards honours outstanding companies and solutions that have made exceptional contributions in pursuit of technological innovation within Hong Kong’s dynamic tech landscape.

The Hong Kong Business Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Hong Kong Business Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez-Difuntorum at [email protected].