The end of lost baggages thanks to AI ?

In June 2018, IATA (International Air Transport association) will oblige all airline companies to track constantly every luggage. SITA, a multinational information technology company which provides IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry, recently released a report explaining the opportunity to increase the traveller journey.

Indeed, thanks to the automatisation of the various processes through artificial intelligence, significant progresses could be made. The idea is to use connected systems that communicate between them without the help of human beings.

For airlines and IATA it is an opportunity to reduce the costs of baggages handling even though this cost has been divided by two in the last decade. It also improves industry image by showing that airlines take their responsibilities and care about their travellers.

Today most of baggages tracking is done with markers called RFID ( radio frequency identification). The Hong Kong airport is the first airport which has implemented these markers into its baggage handling central system. It allows the travellers to follow their luggages during the journey into the airport and reduce the stress or wait and thus insatisfaction. The airport is testing at the moment a system that enables the tracking of baggages trolleys with machine learning and image processing, with a precision rate of 92%. In the near future it will allow travellers to follow the baggages from the plane to the baggage claim.

Source: https://goo.gl/images/KmVqrA

Indeed, one of the most important trend according to the digitalization marketing is the Artificial Intelligence which is more and more used by the different tourism companies.

One of the most current problem that client meet during his travel is the loss of his luggage. According to the International Society of Aeronautical Telecommunication, 82 000 luggages per day are lost in the diverse airport all around the world and 10 000 in Europe. Moreover, 2,5% of the luggages lost are either definitely lost, broken or damaged.  

In 2010, 30 million luggages recorded have been lost. This kind of problem is due to either a mistake of points during the stopover, either a problem of bar code or an incorrect manipulation of the luggage.

Even if the client can be damaged, the airlines company can loss the loyalty of its guests and receive many complaints and consequently the company will see its brand image and reputation touched. Moreover this is a waste of time for the customer who is looking for a fast service during its travel.

That’s why, thanks to this new technology, this is will improve the satisfaction of the guest, they will be more reassure and relax during their travels and company will be more able to manage the follow up of the different luggages.

We can confirm that this new Artificial Intelligence will be more and more generalized in all the airports.

Source article: Pellegrin, H. (2018, March 07). Le potentiel de l'intelligence artificielle dans le tracking de bagages.

Retrieved March 12, 2018, from http://www.tom.travel/2018/03/07/le-potentiel-de-lintelligence-artificielle-dans-le-tracking-de-bagages%E2%80%89/

Autres source: Statistiques mondiales écologiques en temps réel*. (n.d.).

Retrieved March 12, 2018, from https://www.planetoscope.com/tourisme/944-nombre-de-bagages-perdus-dans-les-aeroports.html

New Technologies: Revolution is in the Air

For April’s post, we have chosen to talk about the use of new technologies to enhance guests experience when taking a flight. To do so, we will talk about Ryan Ghee’s article titled “15 solutions that can improve today’s airport experience” from futuretravelexperience.com. These solutions have been retrieved by the author after his visit at the Passenger Terminal Expo in Cologne happening last month.

In this post, we have selected 6 of these solutions and we will explain concisely how they work. Then we will discuss about how they could be used for events and exhibitions.

source: freedigitalphotos.net

The baggage revolution

Most of the novelties showcased at the exhibition aim at improving and speeding up bag drop. Technologies that enable automated and self-service processes lead to gain in time for airport guests.

1.  Materna Cabin Luggage Check

This solution allows passengers to weigh and measure their hand luggage at the very beginning of their arrival at the airport. The aim is to know way before reaching the gate if the bag satisfies airlines’ carry-on specifications.

2. Biometric bag drop

Before starting, here is a short definition of biometrics: “measurement and statistical analysis of people's physical and behavioral characteristics.” 

This solution enables to “complete the check-in and bag drop process without the need for a manual passport check by a human agent.

3. My Check self-bag drop

This solution works with CCM (computer controlled motion). It is a fully automated self-service baggage drop. The difference with other solution of the same type is that it is more “stylish”, the check-in design, capacity and capability remain the same than with traditional baggage drop.

4. RIMOWA Electronic Tag

It is an electronic tag that replaces the usual paper label you put on your luggage. It is integrated to your RIMOWA luggage and displays digital data module with the same format than paper labels.

5. Contactless bag drop

It is a two steps process that does not require any assistance. The first step is to tag your bag at a kiosk. The second step is to deposit the bag. The advantage is that you do not need to scan documents or press buttons as 4 sensors automatically detect the tag, measure and weigh your bag.

6. Offsite tagging

This solution enables passengers to edit their tag before going to the airport; at their hotel or the train station for example. Thanks to your pre-tagged bag, you avoid queue and gain time.

Applicability for events & exhibitions

What we can capture from these 6 solutions is that self-service and automated processes are becoming the norm. This can fasten attendees’ registration as it is already done through online registration. As well as with beacons thanks to which you can enter an exhibition without having to show your ticket.

One idea of application would be for wardrobe. We have experienced during ITB the “wardrobe process”. If you arrive at a time where it is very crowded you may be discouraged to leave your coat or your bag. A solution to this could be a self-bag and coat drop. It will be faster and let you know in advance if there is no more space available. 

Also, during the ITB at some point of time there was no more room for luggage. There could be a device outside or inside the venue from which you can measure and weight your luggage. By doing so, it gets easier to manage the number of luggage for the wardrobe. If there is no more room, the attendee will know it in advance and will not have to queue.

Lise Cimbolini 

& Truc Duc Nguyen