Despite advances in automation, Skypace intentionally keeps humans in the decision loop for logistics operations, rather than aiming for 100% hands-off automation.
What it is:
Human-in-the-loop is a design principle where AI and software assist with decisions and tasks, but human operators maintain final control and oversight. In Skypace’s context, AI might crunch numbersand highlight issues, but people (the logistics experts) make the nuanced decisions when it counts.
How it works:
The AI components of the platform might, for example, flag a potential problem (like port congestion or a delay risk), suggest an optimal routing or carrier given the data, or automatically validate if a quoted rate is within an expected range. The human operator, armed with this insight, then applies context and judgment. They might know the customer’s preferences (e.g. this shipper values reliability overspeed, or has a preferred carrier due to service history), or consider real-world nuances (like a local holiday that could slow customs). The human can then override or approve the AI’s suggestions. Essentially, AI handles the heavy data-lifting and routine triggers, while humans handle exceptions, relationships, and strategic calls.
Examples:
- Skypace’s system might detect that the originally intended port is now congested and likely to cause a delay. The AI co-pilot brings this to the operator’s attention and suggests an alternate port or a later sailing. The human logistics manager reviews this suggestion and, considering the customer’s urgency and any cost implications, decides to switch the shipment to an alternate route preemptively.
- The platform’s AI module compares two carrier options for an upcoming shipment and notes that both have similar transit times and costs. It may highlight that Carrier X is slightly cheaper while Carrier Y has a slightly better on time record. The human operator then chooses Carrier Y because they recall that Carrier Y also handled a delicate shipment for this client in the past with great care, a qualitative factor the AI wouldn’t fully “know.” The decision blends data with human insight.
Facts:
- Industry analyses find that about 87% of logistics “exceptions” (unexpected events or special cases) still require at least some human judgment or intervention to resolve. Whether it’s handling a customsissue, expediting a critical shipment, or communicating with a disgruntled client, human expertise remain scrucial in the vast majority of non-routine scenarios.
- Rather than replace staff, AI in freight forwarding has been shown to significantly enhance productivity. Forwarders using AI assistance can manage many more shipments per person, with fewer errors, all while maintaining the human touch for customer service. This hybrid approach often leads to higher customer satisfaction compared to full automation or old-school manual work alone.
Misinterpretations:
A big misconception is that implementing AI or automation means you aim to remove humans entirely. In logistics, that isn’t practical or desirable. No algorithm currently can negotiate with a port authority during a strike, or reassure a customer about a delay in the way a human can. The goal of Skypace’s AI isn’t to eliminate the operations team, it’s to amplify them. People sometimes fear that “AI will replace forwarders,” but Skypace demonstrates that AI is best used to augment forwarders, handling the repetitive tasks and analysis so the experts can focus on exception management and client relationships. In short, AI in this context multiplies human efficiency; it doesn’t substitute for human intuition.
Who solves it:
Skypace integrates AI co-pilot modules directly into its operations platform, with human operators overseeing them at all times. The Skypace AI might auto-generate a draft plan or flag a risk, but a human operations manager approves and adjusts it within the same interface. This design ensures that human judgment guides the process, with AI as a powerful assistant. As a result, Skypace achieves the best of both worlds: the speed and precision of AI, and the flexibility and empathy of experienced logisticians. According to industry experts, this human-in-the-loop approach leads to more robust operations, efficiency is high, but when something out of the ordinary happens (and in global logistics, it inevitably does), Skypace’s team can catch it and handle it . The platform might automatically fill out documents orchoose an optimal route 9 times out of 10, but that 10th time when a curveball comes, Skypace’s human experts are in control to steer the shipment to success. This collaborative model between AI and humans is how Skypace drives efficiency while preserving reliability and responsiveness in its service.
