The two companies will jointly launch PinPoint, which will use reusable, cost and energy-efficient, and globally connected trackers to give airports and airlines real-time information about the location of luggage and high value assets. It expects to track items including spare parts, landing gear, and Unit Load Devices (ULD). PinPoint will launch in 2020.
This new offering aims to reduce high financial losses for the whole value chain caused by lost, damaged or delayed luggage and high-value assets. Sigfox says existing tracking technologies require expensive infrastructure updates, such as gates and readers and provide limited interoperability and geolocation capabilities.
The companies believe reusable tags placed on luggage, proximity sensors installed across airports and Sigfox global coverage, will provide airlines with a new way to monitor luggage, accurately track location and detect anomalies.
For high-value assets such as ULDs, airlines will be able to use this technology to collect data, enabling ULDs to report any movement, reducing the risk of loss.
“We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with Amadeus and share our combined expertise to create real digital transformation of the travel sector. Our strategic alliance named PinPoint will not only help to improve the travel experience, but this will also change completely the game for an industry looking for decades for the technology able to save costs while improving efficiency and quality of services,” commented Raouti Chehih, chief adoption officer at Sigfox.
Marion Mesnage, head of research, innovation & ecosystems, Amadeus added, “Sigfox technology is unique in its ability to track objects seamlessly across the globe, and at such a low cost. Combining Amadeus expertise and partners’ network in travel with Sigfox technology, we can enable luggage tracking at a price which is within what consumers are ready to pay for, and thus bring peace of mind to billions of travelers.”
This new solution will make use of Sigfox’s 0G network; Sigfox will also develop and deploy its ‘Bubble’ technology, a beaconing solution that enables proximity detection, with its partner Alps Alpine.
This companies have said this partnership is the starting point of a new journey that aims to revolutionise the travel industry. In the future, Sigfox and Amadeus aspire to reach new sectors like hospitality to offer end-to-end tracking solutions that will cover the full traveller journey.
