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How can Beacons Help in Airports

A beacon is a device that transmits a unique signal to allow other devices in its proximity to detect its presence and take appropriate actions based on the strength and identification of the signal. Beacons use Bluetooth low energy (BLE) proximity sensing to transmit a universally unique identifier.

Beacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy technology which triggers the mobile application to take an action based on proximity and strength of the signal.

Beacons can be used for building location and context aware applications for both iOS and Android

iBeacon is Apple Inc.' s trademark for a beacon and the protocols to be used to support applications created specifically use these beacons.

The power of beacons is dependent on the apps that are developed to use them. A beacon can only advertise its location to inform a app monitoring that beacon of its proximity to a point of interest

As the technology's full potential is yet to be realized, several organizations are experimenting with beacon technology to understand the ways in which it can be used. Beacons have been the most talked about new technology recently and its low installation cost makes them an attractive option for airports.

The travel industry is one of the potential deployment areas of beacons and tests within airports have been completed by some of the biggest airline companies in the US, Japan and UK.

These tests were done as the opportunities to boost continued connection with passengers at the airports. The article will look at some of these cases and how they can benefit large and heavily trafficked locations such as airports.

There are several cases that require regular data dissemination to passengers, airlines and administration within a busy aviation hub.

With beacons, airports can easily provide passengers with indoor directions, walk times to gates, lounge access and alerts about boarding and knowing where a passenger is before sending information enables effective communication.

This article looks at the potential of using beacons in airports.

Beacons and the way we travel through Airports

Independently beacons are only signal transmitters and require a mobile app to take action based on a beacon's presence.

An airport can design its mobile application to use location information based on beacons to give passengers travelling through the airports accurate way-finding information to their gates, baggage carousels, duty free shops, restaurants and other points of interest. The indoor mobile app is now nearly as intelligent and powerful as an app that relies on GPS data to provide guidance and location information.

However, for the beacons to improve the passenger experience, they should be deployed at strategic locations within the airport. Airlines and airports sharing equipment is proven to be an effective way of having the beacon technology installed as it is used for kiosks, check-in desks and boarding gates.

This technology triggers helpful notifications to passengers’ mobiles during critical points of the airport journey. Notifications can be automatically sent to passengers approaching baggage drop-off points and security, prompting them with specific information on tagging and presenting documents respectively.

Beacons placed at passenger touch points including check-in, bag drop, passport control and departure gates could be used to ‘pull’ information and context specific services.

Passengers walking into the airport can receive information on airline check-in counter numbers.

When walking past a beacon, passengers can be informed of baggage drop-off and collection carousels along with the time prior to arrival of bags so they can estimate time needed for duty free shopping

After checking in, passengers can receive flight confirmation information, such as boarding time and gate number or flight delays and gate changes.

Beacons can help guide passengers through the airport by directing them to the right boarding area and informing users of where the nearest cafe or restaurant is.

In case, passenger is late getting to the gate and moves past a beacon, provide an alert to the passenger and offer to provided guided path to designated gate for the flight

Passengers can also receive offers and promotions when walking through the Duty Free sections.

Benefits for passengers

The goal of using beacon technology within airports is to make passengers travel experience easier and better. Passengers usually are either hurrying up or waiting around looking for things to pass the time, shop, eat, work or entertain.

In many cases, flights get delayed for one to two hours or even longer. Location based information that passengers are receiving based on a location enabled app would be a great help in finding ways to offset the wait time.

A passenger who is running late could be alerted to the fastest path to his gate. Airlines with advanced technology could use the beacon network to alert him to respond on boarding calls so that the passenger can confirm his arrival at the gate.

Passengers can be provided with the amount of time they prior to boarding so they can effectively plan their shopping activity in the duty free shops.

Benefits for airports

The above are just a few of the use cases that can be implemented within closed environments such as airports with high population traffic around the clock.

Leading airports are always looking at ways and means to improve a passenger experience and efficiency within the airport and using beacons may be one more step in the right direction.

For further information, please email us at info@ucssolutions.com