Lost luggage issues at airports are very common these days. Also, it is one section where no prominent improvement steps were taken. However, IATA has released a notice for the airlines and airports to find ways to reduce baggage mishandling at the airports.
How about we tell you that the IoT has an answer to this baggage mishandling issue? A smart luggage tracking system using IoT can let you travel stress-free by keeping you always connected to your luggage.
Still curious how the system works?
Read the blog till the end to learn how the IoT based baggage tracking systems work and how PsiBorg Technologies can offer you the best Luggage Tracking System using IoT.
WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR A LUGGAGE TRACKING SYSTEM?
Millions of bags are lost every year at airports and are mishandled by the airlines each year. This results in the industry losing hundreds of millions of dollars and an endless list of upset customers.
In addition to this, IATA (the International Air Transport Association) has mandated improving baggage handling systems.
Let’s look into the need for an IoT based smart luggage system.
MISHANDLED BAGGAGE RATE ALMOST DOUBLED
Airports are always large and are loaded with complex machines to serve billions of passengers. With each passing year, air travel traffic keeps surging, and so does the list of baggage lost cases.
An overview of lost baggage on SITA shows that the number of mishandled bags has increased exponentially by 74.7%, i.e., by 7.6 bags per thousand passengers.
These baggage loss cases occur mostly on international flights, where bags are more likely to be transferred from one flight to another. Baggage mishandling cases are 8 times higher than on domestic flights.
Also, if we see the statistics from the passengers’ point of view, then 81% of passengers want to track their bags at all points throughout their journey.
63% of passengers demand that airlines improve their baggage handling and tracking processes and create transparency throughout the entire process.
Also, passengers demand to be informed about their baggage status and delivery waiting time, if there is any such issue.
BAGGAGE MISHANDLING: WHY THIS HAPPENS?
Now, let us decipher the baggage mishandling scenarios for you. This way, it will be easy to understand how the solution we are providing will be beneficial to you and how our solution works.
So, there are four common instances that lead to baggage mishandling.
1. IF YOUR BAG IS LOADED ONTO THE WRONG PLANE
As a passenger, you will always check and put your baggage on the conveyor belt, but a human error can occur. An employee can place your luggage on the wrong baggage cart, and eventually, it will be loaded onto the wrong plane.
2. THE ATTENDANT AT THE COUNTER TYPES IN THE WRONG DESTINATION CODE.
So, when you hand in your luggage, the bag check attendant can accidentally input the wrong destination code, and your baggage loads onto a different flight.
3. THE ROUTING LABEL GETS DAMAGED.
At the time you check in your bag, it gets tagged with a vaguely printed, indistinct routing label- or more often, the readable label gets snagged and torn off your bag. On top of that, you also forgot to fill in the identification card that comes with your luggage.
4. YOUR BAG IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER ONE.
You can be distracted by anything when you land at the airport, and maybe you picked up a different luggage that looked similar to you and you didn’t realize it until you reached your home.
Thus, baggage loss can occur for several reasons, but a single customer’s baggage loss will impact the airline’s brand perception, and brand perception matters the most.
Delivering a passenger’s bag on time will eventually improve customer satisfaction and will straightly affect the airlines.
That is why there is a need for real-time tracking of your luggage. And in the field of real-time tracking, IoT always shines.
A smart luggage tracking system using IoT will bring touchless, unassisted bag drop implementations that will not only digitalize entire baggage operations at airports but will also optimize baggage handling, minimize costs, and enhance the overall passenger experience.
Let’s learn how this IoT based baggage tracking system works.
HOW CAN IOT SOLVE THE LOST LUGGAGE PROBLEM?
Losing luggage is a similar problem to asset tracking, which is the method used by today’s logistics industry to track their logistics/goods delivery.
The main star of asset tracking systems and luggage tracking systems is RFID (radio-frequency identification). The use of RFID is a bottom-line approach to address the existing baggage mishandling issues.
The IoT based smart baggage tracking system uses RFID, which can automatically identify and track tags attached to the baggage. These tags contain digitally stored details. An RFID system consists of three components, a tag, a reader, and an RFID middleware.
This being said the Internet of Things (IoT) is the only technology that holds the potential to impact how we live and how we work.
So let’s now discuss in detail how a luggage tracking system using IoT will work.
HOW DOES A LUGGAGE TRACKING SYSTEM USING IOT WORK?
- At the time of check-in, the details of each and every passenger, like the name of the airline, flight number, bag type, and mobile number of the passenger, are taken and stored with a unique identification number that is specific to each person. This identification number is stored in the memory of the RFID tag along with other details about the passenger for future reference. This same identification number is also sent to the passenger through SMS to keep them informed and maintain transparency in the process.
- After making tags and sticking them on baggage, it is passed through a gate that is embedded with RFID readers. When the luggage passes through the gate, the system observes the details on the tag and sorts them according to their flight number.Â
- Baggage is then loaded onto subsequent flights. To further confirm that the baggage is loaded successfully on the flight, the baggage is again passed through an RFID reader at the time of loading.Â
- Once the passenger reaches their destination and at the time of offloading, they are again passed through the RFID readers to confirm the offloading of the baggage at its destination. Passengers will be notified via SMS that their luggage has arrived as soon as the baggage passes through the conveyor belt.
BENEFITS OF IOT BASED BAGGAGE TRACKING SYSTEM
This luggage tracking system using IoT is the best solution to address baggage mishandling at airports. Also, with the baggage tracking system, airlines can offer good services to their passengers, thus improving their brand name. After all, solving customers’ headaches will benefit brands by increasing their satisfaction rate.
Thus, an IoT based baggage tracking system offers benefits to both sides.
FOR PASSENGERS
– Reduces users’ precious time by making the check-in/check-out process automated and more digital.Â
– The passengers will always be informed about their luggage in real-time, so they can take timely action if anything goes wrong.Â
– It will foreshorten the total number of checkpoints, ensuring a fast, smooth, and pleasant passenger journey through all stages.
FOR AIRLINES AND AIRPORTS
– Improves customer satisfaction.
– Minimize the cost by reducing the number of mishandled/damaged/lost bags.
– Maximizes operational efficiency by reducing the number of checkpoints by sharing luggage details with all trustees.Â
– This will also reduce departure delays by tagging all the bags. Â
SOME OTHER REASONS TO CHOOSE SMART LUGGAGE
The smart bag comes with a smart baggage tracker and offers a wide range of features.
Below are the features of a smart luggage system that will give you some more reasons to get an IoT based luggage tracking system.
- Tracking and alert features.
- Anti-theft protection
- On-the-go battery packs
- Airline and airport compatibility
- Accommodating and stylish design.
WHY CHOOSE PSIBORG FOR AN IOT-BASED BAGGAGE TRACKING SYSTEM?
We design and develop a luggage tracking system using IoT for reliable tracking. A baggage tracker should be designed to be portable so that travelers can use it easily. We design luggage tracking systems that include an electronic tag and a mobile app.Â
Users can place a tracker inside their suitcase, backpack, or briefcase. So, if they lose their luggage, they simply sign into the app to find their luggage’s current location.Â
PsiBorg is an IoT solution provider and offers affordable IoT based tracking and monitoring solutions to make everyday life more convenient.
If you want to build your own luggage tracking system using IoT, then start your project with PsiBorg Technologies.Â
We will develop a baggage tracking system from scratch using our expertise so that you can excel in your business.Â
Give us a call today!
Meanwhile, Happy Travelling!
FAQ
An IoT based luggage tracking system comes with tracking and alert features; it also offers anti-theft protection, and airline and airport compatibility.
The baggage tracking system comes with an electronic tag that is embedded with passenger details. This will ensure that the luggage is loaded /unloaded at the right destination. The system can also notify passengers via SMS about the location of their baggage at the airport.
Airports and airlines can reap plenty of benefits from the luggage tracking system using IoT.
This IoT-based solution will enhance the passenger experience, increase operational efficiency at airports, and save costs by reducing compensation for lost/mishandled luggage.
