Digitalization and mobility mark the global differential of the Barajas T4 with Panasonic Toughbook technology

Iberia, AENA and Panasonic Toughbook have presented the digitalization and mobility project for airport management in all its phases at T4 Madrid-Barajas, that make this airport the first hub in the world in which mobility is a transversal element in all the airline's processes.

T4 Madrid-Barajas has deployed transversal mobility and digitalization solutions for all ramp services, from the maintenance of the plane to the coordination of all the work necessary for the departure of the flights, fruit of technological collaboration between Iberia, Aena y Panasonic Toughbook.

This new airport management plan is based on the use of mobile devices in all its phases, as part of the company's strategic plan - the Ágora project- to increase efficiency, punctuality and customer service, that make T4 the first hub in the world in which mobility is a transversal element of all airport management.

Dimitris Bountolos, deputy director of coordination and hub of Iberia, assures that “this airport operates in a 24-hour digital environment×7, with an identity similar to that of our clients of always being connected. Therefore our processes must adapt to this reality that, in our case, “It is a true revolution in airport management and a milestone in this industry.”.

Real-time information and efficiency

In this sense, Iberia has developed the applications that are accessed from Panasonic Toughbook devices, division specialized in rugged mobile device solutions for businesses, that facilitate and improve the efficiency of all processes “with information in real time, speed of execution and decision making”, Bountolos points out.

Among these ramp service applications are aircraft maintenance; refueling and inspection of assistance equipment; baggage management (at dock and during flight loading/unloading); coordination of all tasks for flight departure (load, catering,…) and thaw, with full traceability of all processes.

Thanks to the use of these mobile devices, “employees will have real-time information on all operations., They will be able to anticipate possible incidents, will improve the management of available resources and, above all, will reduce the execution time of assigned tasks, with the consequent improvement in the quality of customer service”, explains the Iberia manager.

Among the benefits of this transformation to mobility, Bountolos highlights the efficiency in all the processes carried out around the aircraft, with vital information in real time; improving punctuality and eliminating paper throughout the ramp operation (around 12,2 tons).

Bountolos assures that “no other handling operator had to date deployed transversal mobility solutions for all ramp services”.

Safety and high resistance

As Francesc Castro points out, Panasonic Toughbook country manager for Spain and Portugal, “This project has been a great challenge due to the complexity of the environment, with the development of technologies and applications that add value and that have placed Iberia and AENA as global pioneers in the implementation of mobility solutions throughout their management”.

Among the requirements that this technological partner has met in its devices were maximum readability and vision on screens (full HD, with reinforced glass, transflective and IPS technology) and robustness of the equipment (IP65 protection certificate); longer battery life; ergonomics for use in the workplace (with adapted covers and accessories that allow the mobility of the employee); barcode reading; 3G and WiFi connectivity and Android system, Windows,…

Panasonic Toughbook has supplied about two hundred CF-19 models (ruggedized computers) y FZ-A1 (pills). Smart equipment management cabinets with RFID tags have also been arranged so that each device is available autonomously for its respective employee., who accesses it with his NFC chip card.

As far as security is concerned, in addition to the employee login, Each device has three levels of encryption and GPS, with remote management from the control unit and deactivation if any anomaly is detected. All employees have received training courses and in a few months they will be 100% operational..

“The added value of this project - explains Bountolos- is the software, developed by Iberia's systems management and in collaboration with partners, with its own applications for each of the airport management phases, that we are now evolving to mobility and that we will be able to transfer to other airports, as local business case, studying every need”.

Agora Project 3.0

The Agora project, with execution up to 2015 in collaboration with AENA, It is based on three vertebral axes within the complex ecosystem of airport management: increase punctuality, efficiency and speed of execution and excellence in the quality of customer service “to place T4 of Barajas among the great hubs in the world”, Bountolos emphasizes.

This transformation of Iberia's business "has the employees as the engine of change and key piece of the project," this manager emphasizes., who have participated through all Iberia divisions in the 'Put your heart in T4' campaign during the past year, working transversally with the company and technological partners”.

There are currently more than one hundred initiatives underway at Ágora to improve processes and customer service., like virtual agents; screens to guide billing and waiting line management displays; the new check-in kiosk application; the control of meal vouchers through PDA or the monitoring of crews also via PDA, etc.