Maintaining aircraft records can be incredibly time-consuming, primarily because verifying documentation is typically performed manually. As a result, the analysis is often prone to human error and lacks standardized regulations. Simply put, manual, paper-based record-keeping can’t match the speed and accuracy of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI). The future of aviation is digital—and companies like ProvenAir are ushering in a new era of automated record-keeping with back-to-birth trace insights.

Digital tracking of life-limited material reduces tedious administrative labor while providing more accurate results. ProvenAir provides industry solutions specifically for aviation, streamlining the record-keeping process to better meet client needs.

How Is Digitalization the Future of Aviation?

The aviation industry was rapidly digitalizing before the start of the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020, but while businesses slowed down during this time, it did not decrease the need for digitization. The opposite was true. The increase in efficiency brought on by intelligent record-keeping was needed more than ever when business outlooks were at their bleakest.

Digitalization is the computer-based automation of traditionally manual jobs through smart algorithms and AI technologies. Despite the impact the pandemic has had on the aviation industry over the past few years, the digital transition didn’t slow down. Instead, automated solutions are integrating across the industry to solve a myriad of problems.

Both the industry and its customers benefit from increased technological integration. For instance, industry integrations like automated arrival services, electric ground support equipment (GSE), and geolocation tracking provide meticulous data that makes it easy to smooth out every operational detail. Maintenance and repair tracking automates scheduling to reduce the risk of malfunction.

Furthermore, putting advanced communication technology in the hands of ground crews, pilots, and cabin crews creates more cohesive systems with fewer delays. Additionally, the digital future of aviation includes cloud-based record-keeping that manages comprehensive documentation on materials to aid in buying and selling parts, tracking, compliance, and analytics.

The Challenges and Drawbacks of Traditional Record Keeping

Despite the overall rapid progress toward a digital future of aviation, paper-based processes still persist. Maintenance is one sector of the industry that has lagged behind.

Speculation about the persistence of manual record-keeping increased during the pandemic as the business world embraced remote work. After all, there are divisions of the aviation industry that are accustomed to developing and implementing the latest technology. So perhaps record keeping, which by nature looks to the past, is just slower to change.

Whatever the reason, the delay in automation is costing the industry:

Clerical Time: Manual record keeping takes markedly more working hours than its automated counterparts. Increased labor costs hinder a company’s ability to scale. Especially as the industry is in the midst of labor shortage, skilled labor can be better suited for more value-added tasks.
Missing Information: The value of the component parts of an aircraft is held in records. Lost information can greatly reduce resale values, while detailed records help retain residual asset value.
Remote Accessibility: The more difficult it is to access records, the greater the cost. Not only do paper records reduce administrative efficiency, but they also necessitate travel costs for signature approvals and reviews.
Storage Costs: While the cost of housing all the paper produced through manual record-keeping might seem negligible when compared to other factors, renting a running record storage can add up.
Inaccurate Information: Man-made errors are inevitable in a paper-based system. These mistakes are not only costly but also potentially unsafe.

The Current Market Solutions: Automation and Cloud Utilization

A company’s long-term success is determined by its ability to adapt to changing market landscapes, new technologies, and shifting customer behavior. Competitors are always looking for an edge. Improving operational efficiency never ends, so those that fall too far behind might have a hard time catching back up.

The aviation industry is currently seeing an increase in competition, managing an exponential increase in technical advancements, and navigating post-pandemic customer management. Ultimately, integrating digital solutions is vital for companies trying to keep up with the shifting industry landscape.

In terms of automated record keeping, cloud solutions and data collection are two of the most effective implementations.

Cloud Solutions

Accessibility is vastly improved with the cloud. Digital storage reduces administrative labor costs and the number of mistakes, and it ensures documentation never goes missing.

Overall, the industry is moving documentation to the cloud. A network of digital devices can upload, access, download, or view records through a secure connection where they can be remotely managed and organized.

Data Collection

Most aviation companies are already tracking and storing data in many different areas of their operations. However, one of the most crucial metrics to track relates to aircraft maintenance.

Software tracks and notes any potential issues during flights to notify mechanics—a simple function but one with numerous benefits. Companies that integrate analytic trackers ensure the safety of their aircraft, reduce flight delays, increase the efficiency of their repairs, avoid unexpected maintenance, and even reduce the cost of repairs.

Additionally, companies can fine-tune their flight schedules with analytics software. AI alerts airlines to weather patterns, allowing them to adjust flight paths as needed. Also, aggregate data over time will highlight operational inefficiencies, improving overall performance.

Almost every part of an airline’s operation can be tracked and improved with analytics, which is why it’s the future of aviation.

The Role of AI in Digitalizing and Automation

The adoption of AI is picking up speed in aviation. Airlines and manufacturers are currently using AI to automate processes across the industry, such as optimizing operational workflows, managing customer service, and cutting emissions. Additionally, AI is transforming administrative practices with automated record-keeping.

Machine learning compiles data, analyzes it, and generates models or predictions that allow companies to manage documentation more efficiently.

Why Cloud Is The Future of Aviation

The cloud changed how business is conducted across industries—but it can prove particularly useful in aviation. Instant, remote access to a secure, shared database is invaluable when operations involve many moving parts.

The cloud also allows for quick, unified responses to environmental concerns and eliminates unnecessary IT infrastructure costs. As competitors integrate more and more with cloud services, it’s clear the cloud is becoming the future of aviation.

The Challenges Facing the Future Of Dynamic Documentation Processing In Aviation

The state of manual record-keeping makes digitalization seem like an obvious choice. Yet record keeping is lagging behind other sectors of the aviation industry in digitalizing its methodology. Why isn’t it an industry standard?

While the future continues to move toward the cloud, there are reasons behind the hesitancy to adopt new technology. Some reasons are culture-based, while others are more serious technical concerns. Regardless, retaining a competitive edge in aviation necessitates algorithmic and AI-based record-keeping.

Let’s look at just a few of the biggest challenges to going paperless:

Resistance to Change: Organizations without proper adaptation strategies often resist implementing advancements. Generally, they fear implementation will fail, or they resist the effort required to change legacy systems. However, in competitive spaces, a failure to optimize continuously will soon leave one behind.
Complex Software: Workers trained to manage paper-based record-keeping will likely face a digital skills gap when encountering automation. Retraining is required when learning a new system, but user-friendly software like ProvenAir is designed to be intuitive to make the process easier.
Budget: Investing in new technology generally comes with an up-front cost. However, implementing AI technology is ultimately a money-saving measure that easily mitigates concerns about its cost.
Security Risks: This is a serious concern in the aviation industry, especially concerning maintenance. Choosing a system that takes cybersecurity seriously can mitigate potential attacks and increase overall safety with greater record accuracy.

Trace engine systems like ProvenAir are offering solutions to these problems to help ease the digital transition for companies.

Why the Right Solution Matters

The future of aviation is digital. The biggest challenge isn’t choosing whether to adopt new technologies but which software to integrate.

Well-designed software will address potential concerns surrounding implementation, security, and training. It will optimize record keeping and eliminate the inefficiencies and errors of manual entry. To ensure a smooth rollout, leaders must evaluate efficacy through the lens of day-to-day operations.

Software that’s simple and efficient will save time and ensure assets retain their value through documentation. To create a cohesive provenance for every part entered, use a system with organizational and collaborative capabilities focused on this goal. With a consecutive timeline of life-limited parts traced back-to-birth, companies can maintain a living record while simultaneously analyzing their data. Additionally, smart software can alert companies to missing paperwork or information gaps.

The real-time visibility of intelligent record-keeping gives users a competitive advantage. The clarity of records directly correlates to the perceived reputability of a company. Trust is implicit when the full provenance of a part is accessible.

ProvenAir and the Future of Aviation

Digitalization is a competitive necessity in the aviation industry. Record-keeping was not as quick to adopt technical solutions as other sectors, but soon it will be an industry standard. This presents a unique opportunity for early adopters. Companies that invest in back-to-birth tracing technology can quickly distinguish themselves from competitors that are still manually managing their records.

The right software is easy to implement, saves time, and produces more accurate documentation. In the current competitive aviation landscape, these benefits can make or break a company’s long-term outlook.

ProvenAir is the preeminent cloud-based software for record keeping. The platform utilizes AI and smart algorithms to create and analyze dynamic timelines of life-limited parts. Reach out today to see how ProvenAir can transform your record management system.

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The Future of Aviation: Digitalizing Your Documentation For Smart, Intelligent, and Automated Workflow