THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS TRAVEL

Like most travel speakers can tell you, the future of business travel isn’t far off – in fact, thanks to new technology and innovations, in many ways, it’s already here. Case in point: Contactless solutions, digital IDs, and biometrics are already in deployment at airports and transportation hubs all over the world as we speak. For example, did you know that Delta already has an entirely touchless terminal (Terminal F) in deployment at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport already?

You don’t have to be one of a growing number of travel speakers or futurists to realize that contactless and seamless customer experiences are the future of business for many industries. After all, these biometric (body)-powered solutions provide a safer and more convenient alternative to traditional methods of interaction, even as COVID-19 and coronavirus continue to remain on the rise. Noting this, more and more airlines are turning to these high-tech tools to optimize workflows, streamline operations, and improve agility. Naturally, facial recognition technology and digital IDs – which allow you to essentially create an online profile then scan your face to confirm your identity at an airport kiosk – are a big part of this movement. Using them, you can pass security checkpoints, drop off bags, and even walk straight onto a flight with a minimum of or even no personal or physical interaction with other parties.

Removing the need for physical documents and manual identification checks, these solutions let you breeze through security checkpoints and ID yourself at a glance. However, when paired with thermal temperature checking devices and online health data, they can also be used to automatically prescreen passengers. Such advancements also make it possible to collect and share huge amounts of data on the fly, allowing airlines to, say, know how many carry-ons will be on board before you arrive at your gate, or which gates to steer staff to more efficiently as flight volume peaks and wanes. Maximizing convenience, they can go far beyond simple self-service check-in to facilitate secure and contactless payment from departure to destination as well. 

Bearing this in mind, as travel speakers should be quick to point out when quizzed, the future of business travel clearly lies in smart and biometric technology. Happily, as you might image, the future of transportation only gets brighter from here as well.