The Moodie Davitt Report presents the latest edition of regular column The Digital Conversation, in association with Shiseido Travel Retail.
INDIA. Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has launched an innovative app as a first phase in creating a “digitised, seamlessly connected and intuitive airport” at Kempegowda International, Bengaluru.
The owner and operator of the airport is aiming to revolutionise the travel experience for passengers by creating a futuristic ‘smart’ airport. A range of digital technologies will be implemented at various touch points, and will include the Internet of: things, people, services and data.
The newly-launched BLR Airport app, created in collaboration with technology company ThoughtWorks, represents the first stage in this digital transformation and aims to provide travellers with an ‘airport in their pocket’.
The app has an “intimate interface” and offers a number of features with simple, single click access. Features include retail and food & beverage offers and real-time flight and gate information, BIAL said. The context-specific operational and commercial notifications are powered by beacon technology.
The app also offers airport navigation powered by Google Indoor Maps, and Bengaluru Airport has become the first Indian airport to use the system. BLR Airport app is available on iOS and Android, with users of the latter platform also receiving one touch Wi-Fi connectivity.
“Our aim is to transform our customers’ airport experience,” said BIAL Managing Director Sanjay Reddy, who spoke at The Trinity Forum this week in Mumbai.
“Every new digital introduction will combine innovation and emotion, because we strongly believe that digital is more than just technology. The BLR Airport app is an example of how we are leveraging technology to make travel through the airport simple and easy. As we move forward our concerted efforts will be in introducing innovative and interactive digital solutions that will create value for our customers.”
ThoughtWorks studied 14 airport apps to determine the most powerful features the BLR Airport app would require. In the first phase these include:
- Flight information and flight tracking with real-time flight status updates
- One-touch WI-FI connectivity (on Android) – no repeat input of user details
- Airport navigation with Google Indoor Maps
- Must Try (F&B) and Must Buy (Retail) features
- Contextual notifications, powered by Beacons – passengers can receive relevant notifications based on their location
- Feedback –users can share feedback about their airport experience
The next releases will incorporate additional features. “The newly built digital platform’s innovative potential will keep adapting to the airport’s evolving digital needs,” BIAL stated. “Through these efforts BIAL aims to future-proof its airport operations and services by making meaning of the abundant digital data available and creating more personalised, just-in-time travel services.”
The digitalisation of airports was a key theme at The Trinity Forum 2016, with many speakers and panellists discussing and debating the topic on both days of the conference.
