Sustainable growth in the age of artificial intelligence

Karima Kouidri

Allow me to posit that travel is truly one of the first non-necessary activities that we humans indulged in – after all, there was no pressing need for our ancestors to venture beyond the comforts of home and hearth and potentially embrace hardship and danger while seeking out uncharted seas and lands. As such, travel is a fundamental expression of human curiosity and as enablers of billions of journeys each year, Amadeus is uniquely positioned to shape the future of travel in many ways.

One of those ways is enabling the increasing growth in world-wide travel in a sustainable and responsible way. Lucas Bobes and I recently attended the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Sustainable Development Impact Summit in New York. The WEF engages leading political, business and civic leaders to promote private-public cooperation to look for various actionable ways to improve the state of the world. The participants leading these discussions were quite impressive, including prime ministers and presidents of countries around the world, business leaders of major global corporations, and thought leaders in civic life.

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a core objective for businesses and countries today. Former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore, and Governor Jerry Brown of California, both in their intellectually provocative styles were arguably the most articulate speakers to underscore the point that while climate change is a continuing concern, the bigger challenge now seems to have shifted (once again) to uniting the world to fight climate change. As another speaker put it, “we know how to reduce emissions, but we are simply not doing it”.

However, much of the discussion around sustainability this year was also around how technology is both going to drive sustainable development, but can also widen the arc of inequality if we are not careful. Marc Benioff, CEO of SalesForce was a vocal proponent in making sure that while the technology industry rapidly adopts Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are also simultaneously addressing issues that may arise with the concentration of power in countries that lead development of AI or the societal impacts by the potential loss of several jobs for humans. Emerging AI techniques applied to food production, healthcare or education can allow citizens to live better but can also drive a “crisis of equality” if the benefits accrue to a narrow section of society.

The emergence of Blockchain and Digital Identity were other topics discussed that are very relevant to travel. We at Amadeus are leading the adoption of several of these advances in technologies for the travel industry. Our recently launched paper discusses the application of blockchain, and we are implementing several AI methodologies across the spectrum, from developing intelligent chatbots to improving our core algorithms and running more efficient operations.

Amadeus has just celebrated its 30th birthday and sustainable development has always been a core operating philosophy through the years. We practice the basics of environmental sustainability, like continuously reducing power consumption in our offices across 190+ countries, and efficiently managing power consumption in our world-class data center infrastructures. Our technology also helps our customers to do the same – as an example, our flight management software can help airlines reduce taxi times and optimize fuel consumption needed for flight plans, thus reducing their carbon footprint.

We measure and benchmark our sustainability practices, and this year, for the sixth year in a row Amadeus has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the World and for Europe. Sustainable development is a goal for the World Economic Forum and the United Nations, and sustainable profitable growth is also the guiding principle of how we continue to deliver value to our investors and customers.

source : https://tinyurl.com/y7m6noyk

 

Airport Authority Hong Kong

Karima Kouidri

Airport Authority Hong Kong calls for closer collaboration as big data and biometrics projects advance.

Andy Bien, CIO, Airport Authority Hong Kong (pictured here speaking at FTE Global 2017), told FTE that industry stakeholders could collectively benefit by working more closely together. “The future is about collaboration,” he said. 

At Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the Three-runway System (3RS) project is being undertaken to prepare the airport for significant growth in passenger and cargo volume. The construction started in August 2016 and it is expected to be completed by 2024. In the meantime, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) is investing in a raft of technology-centric initiatives to further enhance efficiency across the airport.

One example is the use of big data, which Andy Bien, Chief Information Officer, AAHK, explained is at the centre of a triple-pronged strategy to enhance operational efficiency, deliver retail benefits, and optimise asset management. “If you have a ‘shot-in-the-dark’ approach, it’s very difficult to get any tangible results, so we are refining our approach to big data,” Bien explained to FTE. “To ensure exploration work can yield useful results, participation of subject matter experts in the respective areas would make a big difference.”

To quote an example, the application of big data in the retail space is part of a bigger strategy to overhaul the way airport retail works at Hong Kong’s hub airport. “We are more than just being a landlord. Now we are engaging more directly with our passengers, and technologies such as big data are transforming the way we engage with them,” Bien stated.

Robots and biometrics

On robotics, Bien explained robots could have a role to play, for example in delivery work. But this is not the only area where the value of robots is being considered. “Timmy” the robot has already been trialled in a service role to assist in customer service. “In Hong Kong we have the unique problem where it’s fully employed. The use of robots is not because we want to reduce costs or staff numbers. They will be augmenting, not replacing humans,” Bien said.

Another technology that Bien and his team are paying close attention to is biometrics. “First of all, we want to trial e-gates, following the IATA seamless travel initiative,” Bien said. “We’re studying the use of the face as a token to go through the airport, as some other major airports are doing.”

The use of biometrics could allow a passenger to enrol for their biometric single token, use their face as their identifier at each touch-point (check-in, bag drop, security, immigration, boarding, etc.), and also pay for products and services using facial recognition technology. In parallel, the upgrading of the CCTV system with state-of-the-art digital technology will enable the airport to take full advantage of image processing capabilities.

Bien continued: “Both the seamless travel project and the passenger engagement initiatives on the retail side have some kind of image recognition or personal identification need. Rather than being implemented as siloed systems, each of these initiatives could be based on a single platform and work in tandem.”

‘We need horizontal solutions’

Bien said industry players have to change the way they work to provide the necessary solutions: “One of the major challenges we’ve seen in the past is that established suppliers have vertical solutions for each one of these needs. What we need now is a horizontal solution serving multiple purposes.” These systems will be gradually introduced in the next few years.

Bien also suggested that closer collaboration within the industry could be crucial to achieving this more horizontal approach to biometrics integration.

“We talk about collaboratively reinventing the airport experience or the way we manage airports, but we are not alone in having this challenge. A lot of the start-ups we work with don’t worry so much about holding on to their own IP and holding back. They focus more on using open source and open data, and this is where we really can differentiate two mindsets. One is more protective and one is more transparent. Just holding on to your own secret weapon might have worked in the past, but the future is about collaboration.”

While it remains to be seen how long it will take industry suppliers to fully embrace collaboration for the benefit of the wider industry, the transformation of Hong Kong International Airport will continue regardless. While new facilities will cater to significant passenger growth in the long term, it is technology that holds one of the keys to making the most of the existing infrastructure in the immediate future.

source ; https://tinyurl.com/yc7ly2hb

 

A guide that features Americans most technologically advanced airports

Karima Kouidri

The guide features new technology initiatives

that each of these airports is using to help traveling not only become faster but also more enjoyable.

From live security wait time trackers to customer service robots these innovative high-tech airports go above and beyond to keep travelers comfortable and connected. I feel like this guide would be a great addition to your site.

you can read all details here : https://tinyurl.com/ybsjcylj

Thank you to Thomas Krivanek
AT&T Content Manager
Authorized AT&T Retailer

for sharing with us this info.

How airport data can be used for personalized travel retail offers

Karima Kouidri

What does the #future #airport look like?

Kian Gould and Peter Mohn discuss how can airports create an integrated online and e-commerce customer experience.

The #airport #industry is one of the data richest industries, especially when airports and airlines collaborate and connect their data and loyalty programs. With e-commerce and #data #automation, airports have the great chance to create personalized offers for each customer. Having this passenger footprints is a major advantage compared to big players like Amazon and Alibaba. Airports have another big advantage: for airports, the two main e-commerce cost drivers in e-commerce, traffic acquisition and product returns, can be neglected. For airports, online traffic comes for free, and returns and return shipping costs can be almost zero, as passengers get their delivery at the airport. Having those two cost drivers at almost zero, #digitalization and e-commerce is a big opportunity for airports and #travel #retail.


 

Air travel technology takes off

Karima Kouidri

New technology at airports promises to dramatically transform the travel experience for passengers.

(Image credit: Changi Airport Group)

By Francis Kan

 

In the very foreseeable future, a passenger travelling from Changi Airport could possibly walk from the main entrance of a terminal all the way to doors of an aircraft without having to deal with a single airport employee.

This enticing vision of air travel – which removes time-consuming queues and cumbersome security checks – is already a work-in-progress at Singapore’s world-class airport in the soon-to-open Terminal 4 (T4). This new terminal employs artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as facial recognition, that allows passengers to bypass manned counters and use more self-service options at each stage.

“The facial recognition technology is so advanced that it can even discern the difference between a pair of twins,” said Steve Lee, Changi Airport Group’s Chief Information Officer.

While self-service options have been rolled out progressively at Changi since 2015, T4 – which is set to open on 31 October 2017 – will be the first to offer a start-to-end automated experience that covers check-in, bag drop, immigration and boarding. The new system is expected to result in manpower savings of about 20 per cent in the long term.

Enhancing the airport experience

From biometrics for passenger check-in and boarding to predictive tools that help minimise flight delays, technology is being used at more airports around the world to improve operational efficiency and make the passenger experience a more seamless and less painful one.Airport security and border-control processes were identified as the biggest pain points by passengers in the 2016 Global Passenger Survey conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“In many cases, innovation and technology can vastly improve the experience at the mandatory parts of their airport experience, so much so that it can become a pleasure rather than a pain. The reality is that passengers are happier when they use technology,” explained Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific at SITA, a specialist in air transport communications and information technology.

SITA’s research showed that satisfaction is higher during air travel when self-service technologies are used, particularly at bag tag and collection, and passport checkpoints. Satisfaction is boosted even further when technologies such as mobile services and biometrics are employed.

Airports and airlines are sitting up and taking note. SITA’s 2016 Airline and Airport IT Trends Surveys revealed that predictive tools using AI are likely to be adopted over the coming five or 10 years by industry players. According to the survey, some six per cent of airlines are already trialing AI, another 17 per cent expect to trial the technology in the next five years, and 21 per cent expect to do so in the next six years.

Experts say that airports in Asia-Pacific are in general taking the lead when it comes to using technology to manage the region’s robust passenger growth. The region is expected to lead the growth in global air travel, accounting for more than half of the new passengers over the next 20 years, with China as the world’s largest aviation market by 2029, according to IATA’s 20-Year Air Passenger Forecast.

 

Making travel more inclusive

New technology at airports also aims to improve the travel experience for the elderly and people with disabilities. Solutions such as automated check-ins, for instance, mean that there is no need for them to check in physically in the airport or even online.

While there are still challenges, such as few standardised regulations, they are being worked on. Vinoop Goel, Regional Director, Airport, Passenger, Cargo & Security Asia Pacific at IATA, said that they are “working with governments to standardise regulations where it comes to travellers with disabilities so that there is less confusion for passengers and smooth facilitation for them.”

Challenges aside, industry players expect technology to continue to improve air travel for passengers. Changi Airport’s Mr Lee, for instance, believes that using biometrics to authenticate a person’s identity can be used for a wide range of applications beyond just facilitating the travel process, such as locating a child who gets lost at the airport.

Indeed, beyond self-service options, the processes being tested at T4 include security screening, GST refunds, baggage claims and ground transport, as well as passenger and baggage transfers.

Coupled with other technologies such as robots – which already carry out tasks such as cleaning and carrying luggage at Seoul’s Incheon airport – and self-driving cars, the longer-term picture for air travel is a truly exciting one.

As Sumesh explained, “Imagine arriving at the airport in your self-driving car, having your bag collected by a robot, presenting your face to a camera to get yourself through all the check points and boarding a plane. And all you have to worry about is what to buy, do or eat at the airport before your flight. These things are coming, it is only a matter of time.”

source: https://tinyurl.com/ych5k8kt