SWITZERLAND. Airline catering and inflight specialist gategroup plans to roll out its ePax digital retail solution as air travel resumes. The application, available through retail arm gateretail, allows travellers to directly browse and transact using through their smart device.
gategroup said that ePax removes the requirement for both a printed menu and a retail catalogue onboard. Passengers can instead use their own handheld devices to access a retail web service that operates in both online and offline cabin environments. Passengers can choose from a range of products including travel and destination services.
“The most important step for airlines right now is to ensure passenger and crew safety as the world starts flying again. Airlines are seeking retail technology that is effective in this new operational setting. In parallel to safety and efficiency, we also want to strengthen airlines’ ancillary revenue streams, particularly by widening the portfolio of products relevant to a passenger’s journey,” said Federico Germani, Chief Commercial Officer at gategroup.
“Until now, we have been limited by what we can stock on the trolley. Tomorrow, we are only bound by the appetite of the passenger. ePax ‘breaks open the trolley’, delivering new options in a contactless manner through this true digital transformation.”
ePax is powered by social prediction tools provided by gategroup’s partner, Black Swan Data. These help to forecast consumer preferences and traveller demands, said gategroup. It said that passenger insight data reinforces the desire from passengers for “convenient, safe, and more personalised solutions like ePax”.
ePax also makes improved cabin service efficiency possible as it minimises or eliminates the need for airline crew to undertake several steps in the service model. The platform can be offered as a standalone system or integrated with existing inflight connectivity platforms.
Black Swan Data CEO Steve King said: “We have seen increased demand from carriers who want to digitalise their retail offer. ePax’s innovations, including data-driven mobile product stores, digital payment options, and intelligent recommendations, help airlines deliver safer on-board retail models, while enhancing passenger choice and ancilliary revenues. We are embarking on a new era of inflight retail, one that is more attuned to the experience at home.”
gateretail’s iOS eCrew solution is already in service with many of its retail carriers; ePax now delivers the same level of innovation for passengers, said the company.
