Game-changing Travel Tech
Technology has changed the way we travel in the new world
Whether it is a leisurely time o or short business trips, travel has undeniably become a second nature to most people around the world. Even though the pandemic brought us to a stand-still several months ago, this isn’t the rst time we’ve been faced with a catastrophe of sorts. However, what makes the current scenario di erent is having advanced technology on our side to help navigate into what is called the “new normal”.
Given the threat of the infection, avoiding human contact is one of the primary concerns.
is put the onus on technology companies to come up with ways to ensure that people can continue to live their regular lives in some capacity, with ways to make it contactless. And, they delivered! From contactless payment to food ordering, social distancing apps and health trackers – today, there are thousands of applications and products helping consumers make safe decisions, much more conveniently than expected. Now looking at the world through this lens of technology, travellers are preparing to change the way they travel in the new world.
AN E-EVERYTHING TRAVEL WORLD
Right from the basic shi s to self-service kiosks, online check-ins and digital identi cation, digitisation forms the basis of a contactless journey. It eliminates numerous avoidable touch-points in our rather regular travel related documentation. Alternatives such as e-visa and digital identity documents have successfully demonstrated an e ective outcome, while o ering an added layer of security even before the pandemic. e “e-visa on Arrival”, a digital solution developed by VFS Global and used by travellers visiting ailand, Vietnam and Suriname, for instance, allows one to digitally clear formalities at the destination airport, saving time, having done all the online registration and received approval before leaving from home.
On the other hand, automated border controls through e-passport gates (already employed in some regions like Europe, north America or middle east) are an e cient alternative to using desks sta ed by immigration o cers — thereby reducing human touchpoints. ese gates use facial recognition technology to verify the traveller’s identity against the data stored in the chip in their biometric passport.
Another adoption to see a higher uptake when it comes to travel is NFC (near- eld communication) and wearables-enabled Forex. Furthermore, location-based information services that could help people with immediate medical support, quick reference directories, real-time local updates, etc. will also gain base and make the traveller more reliant on technology for planning.
ADDED LAYERS OF SAFETY
“IoT” (Internet of ings) that connects your phone to your luggage to locate it faster and avoid queues, hotel keys checking you in automatically without having to stop at the reception, and a digital health passport ensuring digital veri cations on medical status, while keeping risky travellers at bay, will form a part of the essential planning and execution in travel. Virtual Reality will be another enabler and see a fair amount of application now. An interesting example to this are the Xenex LightStrike Robots deployed by e Beverly Hilton in California, as an upgrade to their regular sanitisation practices. ese bots use ultraviolet light to clean rooms, elevators, open spaces in the hotel, and even guest luggage. A few hotels have also opted to make their suites “smart” – enabling guests to operate the lights, temperature, drapes, television, and more through just their own mobile devices, which means multiple people can avoid touching the same switchboards.
As we recover and move on from this pandemic, technology will play a much more in uential role in the travel industry, to provide consumers with a faster, easier and safer way to travel. With growing expectations and an abundance of choices available today, travel and tech companies will have to keep the innovation wheel running in order to hold the consumer’s attention.
Technology will play a much more in uential role in the travel industry