Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) has installed nearly 2,000 beacons in the Terminal Building, claiming that it is Europe’s first airport with beacons present in all public areas. “In this way Schiphol aims to improve the digital services for its visitors,” says AMS.

 

Beacons are small transmitters that emit a Bluetooth signal which smartphones can use to determine the distance from a device to a beacon. This enables mobile apps to offer location-based, relevant information and advice to travellers and visitors.

 

“For example, displaying your location in the building, or the route to a gate,” says AMS. “Or the automatic display of the digital boarding pass when approaching a check-in counter.”

 

At several conferences this year, one being ACI Europe in Milan, beacon technology has been cited as the necessary ‘next step’ in digital services and promoting retail and F&B at airports. The beacons could serve as way to communicate the latest duty free offers or exclusive products when passengers near the relevant outlets [much like the experience which is facilitated by popular App, Foursquare at border stores]. Charlie Cornish, CEO at Manchester Airports Group (MAG) also told TRBusiness earlier this year that he believes this technology could become of great importance in the near future.

 

 

 

The airport has installed beacons in the departure halls, lounges, piers and luggage reclaim areas, as well as in the Plaza shopping mall and the World Trade Center corridor.

 

Schiphol Group CIO Albert van Veen: ‘We have deployed beacons at Schiphol for all our partners. Airlines and other parties can use the beacons to develop new smart applications that will improve the passenger experience at the airport even further. This summer, the Schiphol app will offer new services based on location.”