Back to Air Transport IT Review - Issue 2, September 2009
Context-aware mobility: View from the inside
Xavier Aubry
CEO, Appear Networks
Appear Networks leads the field in the development of context-aware software infrastructure. Earlier this year, SITA announced a partnership with Appear for the introduction of the air transport industry's first-ever context-aware mobile platform. This provides common-use access to applications 'on demand' over wireless and mobile networks.
Can you explain the purpose and advantage of a context-aware mobile platform?
We all know that IT is critical to the air transport industry, but far too many operations are still based on paper and voice. Take MRO processes. Eighty percent of the cost is labour. And 30 percent of the labour cost is taken up with preparation, information collection and reporting. That inevitably slows down processes and runs the risk of misinterpretation.
At its heart, the context-aware mobile platform allows airlines, ground handlers and other partners within the airport environment to escape dependence on manual processes, voice communication and back-office reporting for a broad range of critical operational functions. A case in point: the mobile workforce concept enabled by handheld devices allows aircraft turnaround with one duty manager for 4-5 aircraft rather than the present "norm" of one duty manager per aircraft turnaround. One airline is projecting double-digit reductions in aircraft line maintenance intervention time and critical work-process improvements.
But how does it work?
The platform enables the push and synchronization of personalized real-time information over the wireless network to an employee's handheld device. Whenever the employee enters or moves between authorized wireless zones, the Appear software dynamically reacts to the location and context.
For example, we linked 10,000 employees of Dutch Rail (NS) to an Appear platform, enabling them to access travel information, reporting tools and other business-critical applications when and where they were needed. The cost of the investment was returned within four months, with an average productivity gain of 25 minutes per employee, per shift, per day - which led to cost savings estimated at €8m a year.
Any examples of savings from the air transport industry?
Along with SITA, we've been running a couple of pilot programmes - with TAP and line maintenance at Lisbon's Portela Airport and with the units used to supply warm air to cabins of aircraft parked at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport. In the latter case, the airport's ground services company has a maximum number of operating hours for the heaters specified in service level agreements with airlines - there is a maximum level of billable time. By using our context-aware mobile platform, the company says it can deploy the heating units more effectively, saving as much as €2,000 per heater per month.
How important is the relationship with SITA?
Crucial. SITA is leading the industry in its adoption of mobility and its development of mobile solutions. We have led the market in context-aware software infrastructure. The combination of the two means that, for the first time, the industry will be able to deploy on-demand mobile workforce services, anywhere in the world. Already, our joint solution can reach more than 250 airports where SITA's infrastructure is in place - and we can help tens of thousands of users raise their game.
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