AVIATION TECHNOLOGY


INNOVATION TAKE-OFF WHAT DOES INNOVATION REALLY MEAN FOR THE AVIATION


SECTOR AND HOW HAS IT BEEN REDEFINED BY THE PANDEMIC, ASKS KANU ARAVIND, HEAD OF INNOVATION AT IBS SOFTWARE


T


he pandemic has been a watershed moment for the aviation industry.


While it’s been one of the greatest


challenges the sector has ever faced, with travel effectively grinding to a halt and full recovery not expected until 2024, the adversity has bred a renewed focus on innovations that will have JHQXLQH ORQJ WHUP EHQHfiWV IRU DYLDWLRQ The airlines that have fared the best


have been those that have been agile and that have prioritised innovation to keep operations running smoothly. In just two months, airlines brought


in two years’ worth of digitisation, including procedures that take care of passenger reservation, airport PDQDJHPHQW flLJKW RSHUDWLRQV FUHZ operations, disruption management and loyalty management. But a laser-focused innovation


approach shouldn’t stop when travel begins to return in earnest. Instead, airlines should learn from


the innovation mindset showcased in the pandemic and adopt future-ready business models that will streamline processes and ensure travellers return. The pent-up desire to travel is there,


but airlines will need to prove they have made it not only safer, but better. But what does innovation really


mean for the aviation sector? And how KDV LW EHHQ UHGHfiQHG E\ WKH SDQGHPLF"


INNOVATION IS ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS Airlines that try to crack meaningful innovation within their own four walls are missing the point. Innovation needs inclusivity of ideas


and diversity of problem sets to be truly effective, and this can only happen if airlines think outside the airline domain to innovate. They should be looking to the likes of


KANU ARAVIND


cruise ships, which have undertaken the mammoth task of safely onboarding thousands of passengers in a relatively short time using technology and have set an example for the entire travel industry. With different sectors of the travel


INNOVATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT TECHNOLOGY It’s a common misconception that technology and innovation must exist in tandem. While tech often plays a critical role, innovation must be connected to a clear and addressable business problem. Throwing money at the latest cloud


VROXWLRQV RU DUWLfiFLDO LQWHOOLJHQFH ZLOO QRW PDJLFDOO\ VROYH GHfiQHG LVVXHV LI LWȇV done in isolation and disjoined from business initiatives. Primarily, you must look at the basic


IXQFWLRQV LQ WKH EDFN DQG IURQW RIfiFH and make sure these operate smoothly before you introduce a technology layer to streamline.


industry at different stages in their recovery, a well-connected travel ecosystem incorporating varied expertise from all over the industry will ultimately boost overall recovery and streamline innovation.


INNOVATION HAS TO FOCUS ON CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS The pandemic has irreversibly changed consumer expectations. With many businesses switching to online services since the start of the crisis, the consumer is now used to having HYHU\WKLQJ ULJKW DW WKHLU fiQJHUWLSV DQG expects a convenient and personalised experience. It is no longer about selling what ➢


TRAVOLUTION.CO.UK — SEPTEMBER 2021 — 25


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