BBT looks at the way in which beacon technology could change the business travel experience
To start with what is beacon technology?
Beacons are tiny transmitters about the size of a coin, that use Bluetooth low energy proximity-sensing to send a signal that can be picked up by a mobile device.
A beacon can tell where a smart-device user is (some up to 70 metres) and can then send that device message and prompts.
So in what ways will it change the business travel industry?
Business exclusivity
One potential for beacon technology would be for an airline app to recognise that you’re a business flier and, as you walk up to Starbucks, for example, the app will hear from a nearby beacon and pop up an exclusive voucher for a free coffee.
Or, if a flight is delayed or cancelled, vouchers could be quickly enabled for business users to rebook.
Airlines
Easyjet has been trialling beacons at three airports – Luton, Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Notifications reminded passengers as they approached bag-drop and security to open their boarding pass at the right time.
Validation
Travel review sites such as TripAdvisor can be helpful but many people worry about the validity of the review. Beacon technology could put a stop to that as the beacon has a unique signature, so the review site could ensure that the person reviewing was at the location they’re writing about.
Notifications
The benefit for buyers is the ability to notify, identify and track passengers. For example telling them to activate mobile boarding passes or alerting them to the correct baggage reclaim area.
Cheap as chips
They are cheap – about £60 for a set of three – and because they use Bluetooth they work on a range of devices, unlike near field communication, which requires a chip.
To read a more in-depth look into beacon technology and how it could work in business travel click here