By: Jay Feldman
The travel industry is not simply waiting to see how others respond to the increasing security threats and rapidly evolving technology. Instead, it is taking proactive steps with the latest security technology, offering valuable cross-industry lessons for any CEO looking to enhance efficiency, security, and user experience.
“Soon, every step of a traveler’s airport journey could flow more seamlessly,” predicts Herman DeBoard, CEO of Huvr. “Long lines and the frantic search for boarding passes may become things of the past.”
Biometric Integration: A Blueprint for a Frictionless Experience
Airports around the world are increasingly adopting biometric technology to create a smoother experience. At Singapore’s Changi Airport, nearly all immigration processing is expected to be automated by 2026. Dubai’s International Airport is already using facial recognition to expedite security, and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has seen a notable reduction in boarding time, thanks to its facial recognition system.
From the moment travelers book their tickets online, biometric systems are quietly at work. Travelers register their facial or fingerprint data using an airline app or at the airport, and this biometric profile then becomes their key to a more efficient journey.
Beyond check-ins, biometric systems are gradually enhancing the entire passenger experience. In Delhi, baggage drops with facial recognition matching ensure that travelers are securely linked to their luggage. Even shopping and lounge access within airports benefit from biometric technology. At duty-free shops or exclusive lounges, a traveler’s face is their entry.
The benefits of biometric technology are becoming increasingly clear: faster processing times, enhanced security, reduced stress, and a potential decrease in fraud. Airports are gaining all of this without requiring massive investments in infrastructure or personnel. They improve operational efficiency while making the travel experience more manageable for the millions of travelers passing through each day.
“CEOs in retail, banking, or even healthcare could find value in learning from this seamless integration,” DeBoard observes. “By adopting biometric identification systems, organizations could streamline customer identification, reduce fraud, and enhance overall user experience. Imagine a retail store where customers can make purchases without needing their wallets, or a bank where transactions are authenticated with just a fingerprint or facial scan.”
AI-Powered Surveillance: A Roadmap to Fast and Accurate Threat Detection
Today’s travelers can check into many hotels knowing that behind the welcoming smiles and luxurious decor, state-of-the-art AI surveillance systems are ensuring their safety. In the past, hotels relied mainly on security cameras and occasional patrols. Now, AI-powered surveillance systems enable a hotel’s security team to detect, analyze, and respond to potential threats in real time.
These AI systems link to a hotel’s cameras, alarms, and environmental sensors, transforming the facility into a highly sensitive space that can see, hear, and feel everything happening on the premises. Moreover, these systems can think, reason, and learn as they detect behavioral anomalies and assess them for threat levels. Today, AI-driven security systems are capable of recognizing suspicious behavior and alerting security personnel almost immediately.
For example, the system can quickly identify an unattended bag, an individual loitering in a restricted area, or an unauthorized vehicle entering the parking lot. While AI’s constant surveillance remains unobtrusive to guests, it can prevent incidents from escalating.
In addition to detecting threats, AI systems in hotels also store and analyze security data over time. Hotel management uses these insights to make informed security decisions. By analyzing patterns and trends in security incidents, hotels can identify potential risks and implement preemptive measures. This data-driven approach allows hotels to optimize their staff and resources, staying ahead of evolving security challenges.
“The potential of real-time AI surveillance could extend to virtually every sector,” notes DeBoard. “In stadiums, AI can learn to listen for words that suggest an emerging threat; in restaurant kitchens, it can watch for health and safety violations; and in stores, it can track foot traffic to suggest a better customer experience. It can enhance everything from operational security to a company’s marketing effectiveness.”
Real-Time Data Sharing Points the Way Toward Greater Resilience
Even when traveling internationally, passengers will likely experience fewer interruptions as they make their way to the gate. By integrating real-time data sharing, airlines and border agencies are creating an invisible safety net that could significantly enhance the travel experience.
Collaboration is key to this transformation. Future border agencies will not operate in isolation but as part of a profoundly connected ecosystem that involves both public and private partners. Trusted data sharing across boundaries accelerates processing times and boosts efficiency, benefiting travelers and traders alike.
To illustrate the progress in this area, the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with national authorities in Canada and the Netherlands, developed the Known Traveler Digital Identity. This project uses biometrics and blockchain technology to create secure, verifiable digital passports, paving the way for a more streamlined and secure travel experience.
“This model of collaboration and real-time data sharing could offer immense value across other sectors,” DeBoard remarks. “A logistics company that shares real-time data across its network is better equipped to manage inventory and shipping disruptions. Similarly, real-time data sharing across healthcare organizations could improve patient care and emergency response.”
As technology continues to evolve, so must the strategies employed by leaders looking to stay ahead. By learning from and adapting these innovations, CEOs can create resilient, secure, and user-friendly environments that are not just ready for the future but actively shaping it.
“Don’t just keep an eye on your own industry,” DeBoard concludes. “The future of innovation lies at the intersection of diverse experiences and shared solutions.”
Published by Joseph T.
