Digital Backbone Holds Soaring Opportunities for Airports

Related services
Data and AI

Industry
Travel | Hospitality

Company
Xebia

Airports have an integral role to play, not only for the aviation industry, but also as economic engines, trade hubs, providers of emergency services, educational institutions, and more. With global airport operations having been hit by the coronavirus pandemic, operators require innovative and integrated solutions that can bullet-proof operations and assure economic and environmental sustainability. The way forward is to build a digital core around fundamental technologies such as smart data, biometrics, and artificial intelligence to address the issues posed by the pandemic and also help airports secure the required licenses to operate and grow in a world where virus outbreaks could become the new normal.

Why

Transform airport operations for the new normal

What

Build a smart airport connected by a digital backbone

How

Leverage a raft of new, connected technologies, from big data and AI to XR and biometrics

Success in the New Operating Environment Requires Transformation

The global airport operations market was worth a collective $221 billion in 2019, but the coronavirus outbreak saw industry value drop to $94.6 billion in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, before rising to $130.2 billion the following year. Statista data shows that, with so much at stake, operators have already worked to prioritize health measures and maintain operational standards. But recurring virus outbreaks must be factored into airports’ new operating environment. The task is to find technological solutions that can renew revenue streams, prioritize public health, enhance customer experience, and support the creation of a sustainable airport.

Introduce Digital Technologies to Create a Smarter Airport

Focusing on the customer experience while improving operational efficiency is more crucial than ever. An autonomous digital airport experience would use customer and operational insights, so that airports can make intelligent passenger and aircraft traffic decisions, while facilitating a safe and seamless journey. As aviation revenues fall and airports are faced with empty retail space, technology can also help monetize post-pandemic customer journeys in two ways: with an effective e-commerce platform and through digital value propositions by way of products and services.

And because airports must maintain their licenses while delivering new sustainability targets and reducing CO2 emissions, now more than ever, Xebia envisions digital innovations that can help achieve circularity, energy neutrality and social impact in aviation.

“The coronavirus outbreak hit the aviation sector hard. Yet, even as operating conditions have changed, health and safety have been prioritized and sustainability has become crucially important, financial targets have not shifted. Only an integrated digital transformation can deliver the resilient airport we need.”

Daria Nozhkina Digital Strategy and Transformation

Continuous Testing

Continuous delivery and continuous integration allow the newly developed software to be tested automatically and transferred to production immediately. Dashboards provide insight into the status of all platform components. If a component shows errors, a self-healing procedure is triggered. If any errors arise that cannot be self-repaired, the relevant person receives an alert on their phone. This work method has minimized users’ downtime noticeably. And, if downtime does occur, it’s now resolved more quickly. Additionally, the teams are now fully Agile and self-managing. With its new platform, Quby is ready to serve millions of new Toon users.

Digital Backbone Holds Soaring Opportunities for Airports in the New Normal

Success in the New Operating Environment Requires Transformation

Introduce Digital Technologies to Create a Smarter Airport

Continuous Testing

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