Finnair, IBM and Nokia Improve Passenger Service at Helsinki Airport13 June 2006
Finnair is improving the efficiency ofits airport operations at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport with IBM'sRFID solutions. IBM is implementing and managing an innovative solution forthe allocation of employee tasks at Northport Ltd, Finland's leadingsupplier of ground handling services and a member of the Finnair Group. Thewireless technology for the IBM RFID solution is supplied by Nokia.
With air traffic volumes rising, the demands on ground handling staff andresources are increasing rapidly. Northport will implement new RFIDtechnology to streamline the allocation, workflow and reporting ofpassenger services, baggage handling, lounge and check-in tasks. The RFIDsolution is expected to improve the quality of customer service throughincreased efficiency and a smoother passenger experience.
Northport has used RFID technology in the past to log ground staff workinghours. The solution will now be expanded to streamline management of allground staff tasks. Northport ground staff is being equipped withRFID-enabled Nokia 5140i phones. The handsets provide information on thesequence of tasks by reading RFID tags located at key work locations.
In the past, employees had to call a service centre and enter a pin code toobtain details of their next assignment and work location. With the newsystem, assignments are transmitted automatically to mobile phone screens.With real-time two-way data connections, ground staff no longer needs towait or browse multiple voice menus to locate their next task.
The solution technology is based on the Nokia Field Force Solution,consisting of mobile phones, work location RFID tags and the Nokia FieldForce Service Manager software. The Nokia software connects the mobilephones and RFID tags to an IBM WebSphere-based server application and theairport work management system. Information on the location of the phonesand the status of each task is routed to management.
"Assigning personnel to all the tasks taking place at any given moment is atrue challenge. The better information we have on all tasks, the better wecan manage our workforce. Especially tough are the last-minute changes ofarrival schedules, which in turn result in changes in the allocation oftasks. The management needs data when and where staff is available. RFIDprovides us with this," comments Mr. Jari Viitanen, VP BusinessDevelopment, Northport.
"This solution is an excellent example of how a long-term workingrelationship with our client brings new innovations providing real value.Identifying process needs has helped to integrate technology to create truebusiness benefits in innovative ways. The importance of wide-rangingcooperation in this project can not be overemphasized," says Mr. KariHämäläinen, Country Executive, IBM Global Technology Services, IBM Finland.
"Finnair employees benefit from the ease of use and practicality of thereal-time solution, while carrying out their mobile work. Nokia and IBMbring the expertise on integrating emerging technology to meet the businessneeds of Finnair, and deliver a great customer experience," says Mr. PetriVesikivi, Head of Nokia Workforce Solutions at Nokia Ventures Organization.
RFID technology is ideally suited to complex locations such as airports,where logistical efficiency depends on the coordinated allocation ofthousands of individual tasks. With precise information on the flights ofthe day and their required actions, staff resources on duty can be assignedmore effectively, while precise estimates and records of task duration helpboost the flexibility and precision of airport logistics, providing astreamlined route to and from the plane for passengers.
About Northport
Northport Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finnair Plc, provides groundhandling services, air travel check-in, as well as gate and baggageservices to airlines in Finland. The company services approximately 100,000flights and over eight million passengers annually. For more informationabout Northport, please visit www.northport.fi.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years ofleadership in helping businesses innovate. Drawing on resources from acrossIBM and key IBM Business Partners, IBM offers a wide range of services,solutions and technologies that help enable customers, large and small, totake full advantage of the new era of e-business on demand. For moreinformation about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.
About Nokia
Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications, driving the growth andsustainability of the broader mobility industry. Nokia connects people toeach other and the information that matters to them with easy-to-use andinnovative products like mobile phones, devices and solutions for imaging,games, media and businesses. Nokia provides equipment, solutions andservices for network operators and corporations. For more information aboutNokia, please visit www.nokia.com.
Media contacts:
IBM FinlandCorporate CommunicationsTelephone: +358 9 459 5900E-mail: ibmficom@fi.ibm.com
IBM U.S.Kelly SimsMedia RelationsTelephone: +1 646 598 4314E-mail: kelly.sims@us.ibm.com
Northport OyMr. Jari ViitanenVP Business DevelopmentTelephone: +358 40 708 8487E-mail: jari.viitanen@northport.fi
Nokia Ventures OrganizationCommunicationsTelephone: +358 7180 45792
NokiaCommunicationsTelephone: +358 7180 34900E-mail: press.office@nokia.com
SOURCE: IBM
Source: marketwire
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