Accenture, Changi Airport Group Extend XR Partnership

Global tech consultancy Accenture and Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore’s world-renowned airport management group, have expanded their partnership for an additional three years to boost customer experiences for travellers at the city-state’s Changi Airport, it revealed last week.

The deal will allow both to tap novel technologies, including extended reality (XR), the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, cloud and edge computing, among others, to connect travellers across touchpoints while entering and leaving the facility.

Both will also rapidly prototype solutions such as digital loyalty programmes to engage customers travelling and buying with CAG, allowing the firm to develop bespoke CX programmes. Conversely, Accenture will launch a solution for identity and access management to boost data privacy and security.

The two massive enterprises launched the partnership in 2019 after establishing Digital, Innovation, Ventures, and Analytics (DIVA), a digital factory aimed at providing the CAG with fresh digital solutions and services, it explained.

Hung Jean, Group Senior Vice-President for Enterprise Digital Ecosystem and Business at the CAG, said that her Group had always aimed to “put our customers first” by “enhancing the airport experience” and pleasing customers.

She added,

“In this next phase of our digital transformation journey, how we deliver the unique Changi experience, whether offline or online, to our customers remains key. Our vision is to build deeper relationships with our customers and strive to serve them even better through innovative and interactive digital solutions”

Wee Wei Ng, Accenture’s Singapore Country Managing Director, added her company had been working closely to “implement digital enhancements and infuse a culture of experimentation.”

Speaking further, she said,

“As the line between the physical and digital continues to blur, organizations have the opportunity to address issues like trust, sustainability, safety, responsible access and use, diversity and more, helping set the stage for the future”

Accenture, Aviation, XR Unite

The plans come amid an industry-wide exploration of new XR solutions in a bid to increase efficiency, engagement, and upskilling in the aviation industry.

Accenture has led massive efforts to integrate XR technologies for global enterprises and has also opened its Metaverse Continuum Group to tackle the future of emerging technologies conceptually, providing companies with a roadmap to immersive engagement and adoption.

Varjo has remained a longstanding partner with several aviation agencies across Europe, namely after releasing its Aero headset in October last year to train pilots in simulations on-the-fly, frequently, and at any location.

Augmented reality (AR) platform provider Taqtile, who recently joined the Washington, DC-based XR Association in August, completed its Hangar 51 accelerator programme with the International Airlines Group (IAG) to implement its technologies for remote guidance at airports.

In March last year, COVID-19 forced many airlines to leverage XR to boost their maintenance and remote inspection protocols. Dutch carrier KLM implemented virtual reality (VR) to streamline its operations, save costs, and train employees amid heavy national restrictions.

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