Digital Digest - Issue 6 (Jul 2025)

ISSUE NUMBER 6

JULY 2025

DIGITAL DIGEST

BY DIGITAL FLIGHT

This edition explores smarter aviation workflows and how tech is reshaping operations behind the scenes.

Keeping you informed on the latest technology trends and developments

INSIDE AVSIGHT

REINVENTING OPERATIONS

QUOTING WITHOUT CHAOS

INBOX TO ERP IN SECONDS

Richard Frisk on tech-driven transformation in aviation software.

Xstreamline brings AI to streamline aviation and defense workflows

ERP.Aero tackles everyday supply chain pain points with real solutions

ePlane AI and Pentagon 2000 team up to automate RFQs

THIS ISSUE

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FROM THE FOUNDER

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DIGITAL FLIGHT NEW SERIES

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REINVENTING OPERATIONS

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NEW SOLUTIONS

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QUOTING WITHOUT CHAOS

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INSIDE AVSIGHT

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INBOX TO ERP IN SECONDS

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ABOUT DIGITAL FLIGHT

FROM THE FOUNDER

In today's rapidly evolving world, businesses in the aviation aftermarket are exploring digital technology to effectively navigate and overcome industry challenges. However, the path ahead can be incredibly daunting, with a severe lack of guidance, assistance, and awareness of the current digital landscape.

We pride ourselves on curating and showcasing the very best technology from across the aviation industry. Our platform actively connects businesses seeking innovative solutions that are provided from a range of trusted partners.

We are dedicated to influencing the speed in which businesses in the aviation industry adopt digital technology.

By offering comprehensive support, insightful advice, and unparalleled access to a vast network of technology providers, we aim to empower businesses to stay ahead of the curve and unlock the immense potential that modern day technology has to offer.

Our mission is to shape the future of the aftermarket by influencing the adoption rate of digital technology.

Craig Skilton FOUNDER

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INTRODUCING OUR MONTHLY DIGITAL FLIGHT SERIES: TECH TALKS, DEMO DAYS AND EXPERT PANELS At Digital Flight, we're creating space for real conversations and clear product visibility across the aviation tech landscape. That’s why we launched a monthly content series featuring Tech Talks, Demo Days and Expert Panels, all released on our LinkedIn page.

Each month we spotlight aviation tech companies through rotating formats: Tech Talks are focused discussions with one company at a time. We dive into a specific challenge they’re solving, how their product works, and what sets it apart. So far, we’ve featured Rotabull and Oyster Aero, and there’s more to come.

Demo Days are quick, product-first sessions. Companies show exactly how their solution works, giving a clear view of the tools that help aviation move faster.

Expert Panels bring together multiple guests to explore broader topics. We kicked off with a conversation on visibility and collaboration featuring ILS and SmartCert, and more sessions are already in the works.

We alternate between these formats to keep things fresh and relevant, always with the goal of helping aviation professionals learn, connect and discover new tools. Follow us on LinkedIn to catch each session as it drops.

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GUEST ARTICLE: FRED WEISS - XSTREAMLINE SOLUTIONS

REVOLUTIONIZING AVIATION, AEROSPACE & DEFENSE WITH XSTREAMLINE’S AI-POWERED SOLUTIONS For nearly two decades, Xstreamline has delivered tailored software solutions to the Aviation, Aerospace, and Defense industries. Our mission is simple: eliminate inefficiencies and fill the gaps in your current ERP system— whether you use Pentagon2000, Quantum, AvSight, QuickBooks, Sage, or any other platform.

We understand the challenges your teams face—especially the time-consuming process of manually entering Customer Quote Requests and Vendor Pricing into your system. In an industry where time equals money, wasting hours on administrative tasks is no longer acceptable.

Introducing: The XS AI AutoQuote Application Since the summer of 2023, Xstreamline has developed a groundbreaking AI-powered solution—the XS AI AutoQuote Application—designed to transform how your organization handles quoting.

Imagine this: Customer Quote Requests land in your inbox Our application automatically captures, prices, and creates the quote It updates your ERP and can auto-send the priced quote back to your customer All in seconds. Completely hands-free.

Key Features: Fully Customizable: Choose your level of automation Instant Quoting: Generate quotes directly from emails—no manual input AutoSend Enabled: Automatically return priced quotes to your customers Easy Onboarding: One-click creation of new Customers, Contacts, and Part Numbers No ERP? No Problem: Works as a standalone solution too Nuisance Requests? Automatically reply with a no-quote Auto-Vendor RFQs: Created and sent with zero effort Real-Time Vendor Pricing Updates: Always work with the latest data Smart Alerts: Your team gets notified when vendor pricing arrives or changes Unsolicited Vendor Pricing? It gets added to your system instantly This isn’t just automation—it’s a competitive edge. Your Sales and Purchasing teams can now focus on building relationships and closing deals, not data entry.

Seamless ERP Integration Our software integrates in real-time with the systems you already use, solving the gaps and inefficiencies in your existing tech stack. Whether you rely on Pentagon2000, Quantum, AvSight, SalesForce, QuickBooks, or Sage, Xstreamline makes your operation faster, smarter, and more efficient.

Let 2025 be the year you stop entering data and start dominating your market.

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NEW SOLUTIONS POWER AERO SUITES (PAS)

SHOWCASING THE NEW DIGITAL SOLUTIONS WHO HAVE JOINED THE DIGITAL FLIGHT COMMUNITY.

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SPAERO

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About

About

PowerAeroSuites (PAS) is a cloud-based, intuitive ERP software built for MROs and Parts Traders. It delivers one complete solution with integrated accounting, operations, KPIs, and alerts to keep users compliant and competitive. Accessible from any device, PAS simplifies daily operations and helps businesses collect, store, and analyze essential data with ease. Designed on a leading technology platform, it enables better insights and gives aviation companies a reliable edge in their daily operations.

Spaero uniquely protects transactions and accelerates procurement. By design, the platform simplifies unnecessary complexity by ensuring trust throughout the aircraft parts supply chain, even uniquely protecting every transaction. All buyers, sellers and repair providers must be Spaero Partners, having passed our essential compliance process. This ensures that all parties are reputable and above board. Known for transparency and transactional confidence, Spaero helps aviation professionals manage every transaction with trust and get aircraft back into service—faster and safer.

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GUEST ARTICLE: RALPH MERHI - ERP.AERO

AVIATION SUPPLY: BIG BUSINESS, FAMILIAR STRUGGLES Aviation is one of the most complex and critical supply chains in the world. It connects operators, brokers, MROs, and suppliers across every time zone — all working together to keep aircraft moving safely and on schedule. Yet for an industry defined by speed and precision in the air, the supply chain on the ground often moves at a slower pace than many would expect.

For decades, suppliers of every size — from global distributors with warehouses on every continent to independent brokers working the ramp — have faced the same daily pain points. Incoming RFQs pile up in inboxes. Stock data gets stale across spreadsheets and bins. Critical certs and teardown docs hide in folders until the last minute. And the moment something slips, trust is at risk and margin quietly drains away.

No matter how sophisticated an operation looks on paper, the fundamentals haven’t changed much: it’s still a business that lives and dies on details. And when the quoting and sourcing chain is slow, the entire market feels it.

A Marketplace Full of Promises It’s not that aviation supply hasn’t tried to fix these challenges. Over the years, countless solutions have emerged — from the old guard, to new quoting plug-ins, add-ons, or standalone tools that promise to solve pieces of the puzzle.

Some platforms have been household names for years, trusted by suppliers to run their operations end to end.

Others are fresh entrants, built by startups hoping to modernize old workflows with slicker interfaces or more automation. Many of these tools genuinely do good work — they’ve helped teams bring order to the quoting chaos, track inventory more accurately, and manage RFQs at higher volumes.

But the reality is, no single system has truly closed every gap. Even the best “fixes” can leave suppliers overly relying on spreadsheets, toggling between disconnected screens, inbox madness led by Ctrl-F, or relying on manual double checks to make sure a quote goes out complete and on time. The result? A market where plenty of tools exist — but real, daily relief is still harder to come by than it should be.

A Solution That Grows with the Real World This is exactly the gap that ERP.Aero was built to close. Launched in 2019, ERP.Aero didn’t aim to be another plug-in or bolt-on. It was designed from the ground up to match the pace, detail, and volume that define aviation supply — and to adapt as the industry changes.

Companies like Banner Aircraft International have seen it firsthand: they grew revenue by 102% in their first year on ERP.Aero, not because the software did the work for them, but because the right architecture removed the daily roadblocks that once held them back.

Air Supply calls ERP.Aero “highly customizable, innovative, and intuitive” — a system that lets them manage extensive inventory while streamlining sales and supply chain operations. Mountain Air Parts used to burn hours just to sort incoming RFQs; now they handle 20 in about five minutes because the flow is built for real speed.

As Griffon Aviation puts it: “ERP.Aero is a true cloud-based solution that lets us manage our business anywhere and respond immediately to AOG requests. It matches our own values — accuracy, continuous improvement, and responsive support.”

These aren’t flashy slogans. They’re day-to-day wins that happen when quoting stops being a patchwork.

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What About Your Plan?

Every supplier knows where quoting pain hits hardest. For some, it’s chasing RFQs across inboxes. For others, it’s the scramble for certs hours before a shipment leaves. Or the gut-punch moment when you realize the part you quoted wasn’t on the shelf after all.

Most teams try to patch the holes: a few spreadsheet macros here, an extra check-in there, or multiple tools that solve one slice of the problem — hoping they’ll all connect when it matters most.

But patchwork stops working when your RFQ volume doubles overnight — or when your biggest buyer expects speed, accuracy, and traceable detail every time. A real plan must protect trust and margin without leaning on heroics.

The Four Areas That Keep Quoting Strong When quoting is done right, it rests on four essentials that suppliers feel every day: Smart Intake and Routing All RFQs come into one place — from ILS, PartsBase, your website or ecommerce store, or direct email. No more toggling tabs, no requests lost in junk folders. Smart routing ensures the right person sees it first.

Sourcing Speed and Decision Accuracy Vendor replies shouldn’t hide in a PDF attached to an old thread. They’re captured and ingested automatically — docs, prices, alternates, and kits all surface in real time. Less retyping means fewer mistakes and more margin kept in your pocket.

Operational Readiness and Coordination Certs, teardown docs, and trace data stay attached to every line. Inventory syncs live across every bin, warehouse, or consignment lot — so your quote reflects reality, not stale spreadsheets. When everyone works off the same truth, you protect your reputation and bottom line.

Quoting Completion and Visibility A quote shouldn’t be a dead end. When approved, it flows naturally to POs, shipments, and invoices without rekeying. Meanwhile, leadership sees RFQ aging, win rates, and vendor performance live — not next month in a dusty report.

When these parts connect, quoting becomes the strong link it should be — not the place where margin leaks away.

ERP.Aero Is Here — Built for What Aviation Really Needs ERP.Aero has spent the last five years doing what suppliers said they needed most. Think-N-Fly describes it best: “ERP.Aero has the in-depth industry knowledge and skillset to deliver a creative solution that fits our specific requirements.”

Since 2019, the system has hit key milestones: - Centralizing RFQ intake across channels.

- Ingesting vendor replies with no retyping.

- Linking certs, teardown docs, and trace data from quote to shipment.

- Automating the push from quote to PO to invoice — no wasted clicks.

- Delivering real-time dashboards that show what’s aging and what’s working.

From Mountain Air’s 20 RFQs in five minutes to Horix praising ERP.Aero’s quick, hiccup-free customizations, these stories speak to what it means to have a quoting architecture built for aviation’s real grind — not just its buzzwords.

As Aermotive summed it up: “ERP.Aero’s solution grows with us as technology advances. The team behind it supports us in delivering efficient, high-quality service as our business scales.”

When smart intake, sourcing speed, operational readiness, and quoting visibility work together, quoting stops being the fire drill that drains your day. It becomes the engine that keeps your promises real.

For suppliers ready to build margin and trust into every quote, tomorrow’s solution is already here. It’s just about putting it to work — every RFQ, every cert, every promise, every time.

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

EACH EDITION WE ASK 5 QUESTIONS TO A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, GIVING A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE INDUSTRY.

RICHARD FRISK SALES MANAGER

1. To start, can you share a bit about your background and what led you to work in aviation software?

I've been in the aviation aftermarket industry for over 20 years, working across operations, customer service, and warehouse management. That hands-on experience gave me a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face — from manual processes to disconnected systems. What led me to aviation software, and specifically AvSight, was the opportunity to help companies eliminate those inefficiencies through modern technology. I really appreciated that AvSight was designed by people who truly understand the industry. That drew me in and made me want to be a part of it.

2. You’ve been in the industry for over two decades, what’s the biggest change you’ve seen?

The biggest change has been the shift from reactive, manual workflows to data-driven, automated processes. Twenty years ago, we were managing inventory with spreadsheets and chasing paper trails. Today, companies are looking for platforms like AvSight that integrate everything from quoting to repair management to accounting in one ecosystem.

The pace of business has accelerated, and having real-time visibility is now a requirement — not a luxury.

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3. What do you see as the biggest opportunity for digital transformation in the aviation aftermarket today?

The biggest opportunity is consolidating fragmented systems into one platform. So many companies are still using 3–5 different tools to manage quotes, orders, repairs, and accounting. That’s not only inefficient, it’s risky. AvSight offers a cloud-based, fully integrated, solution allowing companies to gain complete operational visibility, automate routine tasks, and scale without adding headcount. That’s where the transformation really happens.

4. How does AvSight’s approach differ when it comes to helping customers increase efficiency and profitability?

What sets AvSight apart is that we’re delivering a solution built specifically for aviation aftermarket companies, and it’s constantly getting better. Customer feedback drives us to constantly enhance and add features. Our platform automates repetitive tasks like RFQ responses and quoting, tracks complex inventory types like lots and consignments, and gives leadership real-time insights into margins and performance. That directly drives efficiency and profitability.

5. What advice would you give to companies still hesitant to adopt newer software solutions?

Don’t let fear of change cost you more in the long run. Legacy systems and manual processes might feel comfortable, but they limit your ability to compete. Start by identifying one or two major pain points, whether it’s quoting speed or visibility into repairs, and see how a modern solution like AvSight can solve them. We’ve helped many companies make that transition, and it’s almost always easier than they expect — especially with the right support.

About Avsight AvSight is the future of aviation software, built from the ground up by aviation experts with a passion for helping businesses be more efficient, productive, and successful. This cloud-based ERP solution eliminates costly infrastructure and empowers teams to work from anywhere. With tools like MyAssistant and central part research, AvSight ensures nothing falls through the cracks and all data is at your fingertips. At AvSight, focus on your customer isn’t just a slogan — it’s the core of everything we do.

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GUEST ARTICLE: PENTAGON AND EPLANE AI

PENTAGON 2000 AND EPLANE AI TEAM UP TO ELIMINATE MANUAL RFQ ENTRY

IIn today’s aviation landscape, where turnaround time can dictate revenue, the quoting process remains surprisingly manual.

For many aerospace suppliers, the first step in responding to a parts request still involves digging through emails, copying data into spreadsheets, and re-entering that information into their ERP system. This is all before a quote can even be generated.

That changes with a new integration from Pentagon 2000 and ePlane AI. The partnership aims to solve one of the most entrenched inefficiencies in aerospace operations: the manual handoff between incoming RFQs and ERP-based quoting workflows.

The integration embeds ePlane AI’s automation directly into the Pentagon 2000 ERP system, eliminating the need to rekey data and helping aviation teams quote faster, with greater accuracy.

From Inbox to ERP, No Copy-Paste Required Instead of relying on manual processes, suppliers can now: Automatically extract key RFQ details like part numbers, quantities, and urgency Feed structured data directly into the Pentagon 2000 ERP platform Accelerate quote creation, especially for AOG and other time-sensitive scenarios The goal? Streamline response time without forcing a change in how teams work.

Why the Partnership Matters With thousands of quotes initiated via email every week, even small gains in quoting speed can yield big results.

Faster response times not only improve win rates but also free up sales and operations staff to focus on valueadded work, not inbox triage.

This integration comes at a pivotal time for aviation suppliers, many of whom are juggling aging fleets, increased AOG events, and limited headcount. Solutions that increase quoting capacity without additional hiring can unlock measurable gains across revenue and customer experience.

The joint solution is currently in beta with select Pentagon 2000 customers. A broader rollout is planned into Q3 2025.

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For those new to Digital Flight We help Suppliers & MRO’s successfully navigate today’s digital landscape of emerging technology and software solutions, through essential guidance, insights and strategy.

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Contact us: info@digitalflight.aero

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DIGITAL DIGEST

BY DIGITAL FLIGHT