The travel industry, one of the world’s biggest sectors, has been growing by leaps and bounds. The sector has embraced a host of advanced and ever-evolving technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT), to fulfill the changing demands of global travelers. In this blog, we’ll discover how IoT is carving the future of the travel industry.

With changing times, the way people travel, along with their preferences and interests, has evolved significantly. The technological era that we live in is also one of the contributing factors to this change. The blend of all these things has made it imperative for the travel industry to leverage the latest technologies, like IoT, and reinvent itself to better serve its customers.

IoT and Travel Industry

IoT, in simple terms, is a system of interconnected “things”, such as computing devices, appliances, and digital machines, that are connected to each other as well as the internet. That makes it possible for these devices to share data among themselves without human-to-human or human-to-computer interactions. One can monitor such devices remotely and automate their tasks.

Realizing the potential benefits such a connected system could bring in, the travel sector – from airlines to hotels – has embraced the technology. That has resulted in the sector witnessing a wave of change, from the increased experience of personalization to optimized management of everyday tasks.

The technology is strengthening the sector in more ways than one. Let’s take a look at how.

8 Ways IoT is Shaping the Future of Travel Sector

Personalization

With IoT, the travel sector is offering a greater level of personalization to guests, on flights and hotels. Customers can control the services or appliances through their own smartphones or the service provider’s tablets.

Guests can adjust the room’s lighting, television, temperature, and even schedule the wake-up calls through IoT-enabled systems. Moreover, these devices can maintain the guests’ preferred levels automatically, making them feel at home. Hotels could also provide guests with e-key cards sent to their phones, turning the check-ins smoother and faster.

The flights, on the other hand, are leveraging IoT for letting customers regulate air conditioning and seat temperature.


Real-Time Information

One of the biggest advantages of IoT is its ability to offer real-time information across devices. In terms of the travel and tourism industry, such data can benefit both the guests and the providers.

With real-time information, hotel staff can determine the current status and functioning levels of devices, which in turn, facilitates better maintenance and timely repairs, if needed. For instance, the staff can be notified about the deteriorating lighting system or repairing the damaged air conditioner.

The travelers, on the other hand, can obtain real-time information on flight status, airport directions, flight boarding, and security check details, offering a hassle-free experience.


In-Flight Experience

Providing the best in-flight experience is one of the top priorities for the airline and the crew. With IoT, this otherwise difficult task becomes streamlined and efficient.

Thanks to IoT-enabled sensors, the cabin staff can determine the anxiety level, hydration level, measure heart rate, and body temperature of the passengers. So for example, if a passenger’s anxiety level goes above the normal level, the staff can get the alert through such sensors and take necessary action, improving the in-flight experience considerably.

Streamlined Operations

Through the implementation of IoT technology, the everyday operations of airports become thoroughly streamlined. Consider an example where sensors are attached to the baggage. The IoT-enabled sensor then sends an alert to the passenger when they are near to the baggage so that it becomes simpler and quicker for them to find their luggage.

Apart from that, the RFID tags can be used to track the luggage in real-time. That not only enhances security but also helps in cases when the baggage is lost.


Customer Service

One of the biggest advantages IoT brings with it is the ability to serve each and every customer based on their individual liking and preferences. The IoT systems collect users’ data, including their specific requirements and dislikes, which the hotels and airlines can rely on to serve and engage their guests every time they visit.

As a result, travel businesses can attain happier and more satisfied customers while at the same time, chances of customer complaints decrease to a great extent. Looking at the larger picture, IoT seamlessly helps the sector in building brand loyalty.


Automation

With IoT, the hotel and travel businesses can automate their operations without hassles. Whether it is tracking the supply chains through sensors, maintenance alerts, or allowing smart-key card entry to guests, many day-to-day operations get automated through IoT. That helps the travel businesses ensure that they offer an uninterrupted flow of service to their customers at all times, saving their time as well as cost.


Tourist Experience

IoT, when utilized intelligently by travel businesses, can greatly enhance the experience of today’s global modern tourists. The IoT-enabled devices and sensors can be put up on various tourist spots that would gather the tourists’ reactions and learn the patterns to optimize their experience. Thanks to IoT, tourists can also easily find all the relevant information, from navigation to tourist attractions around the city, on their smartphones.

Maintenance

Apart from directly enhancing customer experience, IoT also aids in giving the maintenance and back-end functions a boost. With IoT-based sensors, it is possible to predict when a particular part of the aircraft engine needs repair or replacement. The sensors also offer real-time information that helps gauge whether the parts are working properly, reducing the possibilities of accidents. Furthermore, the IoT system can instruct when the airplane needs to be refueled, saving extra fuel costs.


Conclusion

Internet of Things is still considered to be in its initial stages with more innovations set to take place in the future, revolutionizing the entire travel sector. While it would prove beneficial for the travel businesses in revenue growth and customer retention, it would provide a more personalized experience to the travelers.

However, to reap such benefits, it’s important for the travel businesses to invest in the right IoT technology that is also capable of adapting to future changes.

Author bio:

Varsha Solanki is a Digital Marketing Strategist at Space-O Canada, a Software development company. She has 3 years of experience in the Information Technology industry. She spends her time reading about new trends in Digital Marketing and the latest technologies.