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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and disrupted the way businesses function globally. The Aviation Industry is one of the greatest to suffer losses in revenue and operations. It is still one of the first industries to adapt to people’s health and safety regulations. While businesses around the globe are still adapting to this change, the aviation industry is expected to improve and recover by an increase in 83% of overall travelers in 2022, as stated in a report by IATA. Managing this level of increase in growth will require airlines and aviation affiliated businesses to optimize their business operations by bringing in agile transformation. While we answer how agility can be incorporated into the Aviation sector and help recover, we must start by understanding the current trends and challenges faced in the industry.

Focusing on digital solutions

Current trends in the aviation industry indicate emergence of complex issues related to system inconsistencies, operational challenges and difficulties in supply chain management which have resulted in delay in flights, increased passenger grievances and constant changes in air traffic. If not resolved, these issues will lead to global congestion and bring larger problems that will stagnate the projected growth of the industry. Apart from these issues, the regulations by various agencies like IACO, WHO, FAA & IATA and other regional aviation agencies have led to increasing operational flows for ensuring complete airside safety, passenger safety and assessment of every passenger case-by-case in case of discrepancies. These challenges have increased the manual work required for aviation operations in times when there is a shortage of labor. These concerns have led to an increase in demand for digital solutions for workflow automations, data mapping and collaborations at all levels. Airlines and aviation affiliated businesses are looking to accelerate repetitive and iterative manual work like Capex approvals, audits, interest invoicing, vendor management, compliances, health & safety and much more through automation. Even the IATA has extended full support to airlines’ ambition to become 100% digital, maximize the value of data and digital transformation, enable open data ecosystem and trust frameworks, support an agile transformation for restart and a legacy free industry. 

Roadmap to Agile transformation

The sole reason for bringing agility for the transformation of the Aviation Sector is not just to overcome current challenges but to also be prepared for any challenge that might come in future. Setting an agile process will require involvement of all levels of workforce starting from operational executives to C-level executives and with the adoption of an intelligent automation platform, this level of involvement and collaboration can be achieved. Cloud platforms help store and manage data efficiently, low-code/no-code platforms will enable the aviation sector to develop digital solutions with ease and optimize business operations. The road to recovery for the aviation industry starts with operational management. The callout is to be consistently evolving in this process and have defined a roadmap for the agile transformation. 

Managing operations like a pro

Aviation operations include Airside Management, Terminal Management, Logistic Management, Air Traffic Control, Compliance & legalities and much more. These operations require tremendous workforce coordination and allocation. A tech infrastructure helps optimize business operations such as task management, progress mapping, reporting, and escalations through a single system with integrated applications. For example: Assigning maintenance tasks as per fixed schedules and also assignment and tracking of unassigned maintenance checks through a single system application helps in navigating the task with ease. Many such operations can be executed efficiently to improve process time and have complete transparency across all systems and management layers. A key factor that leads to achieving proper execution is having a strong setup for communication between layers of workforce.

Strengthening communication and collaborations

With numerous stakeholders involved in the industry, it becomes extremely difficult to have a single channel of communication and leads to chaos. To overcome this challenge a digital solution can help provide a single unified platform for all internal & external stakeholders to collaborate and have effective communications for operational efficiency. For example: Communication channel setup over e-mail can be filtered and set as per priority and urgency. This will help in reducing email fatigue and also increase productivity. With communication happening at all levels, it is important to have the data and information available instantly. 

One-Stop for all data

With a ton of data being scattered across the airport and multiplicity of tools and applications being used to manage them there is a greater need for integrating this data/ information on a ‘Single Pane of Glass’, across core applications such as Airport Operations Systems, Passenger Processing Systems, Financial tools, RMS, BMS, SCADA, Airfield lighting Systems, integration with ATC, etc and various non-core applications (something that are built internally to manage point issues), so that managers can have a singular view of the airport as a whole and are able to take necessary and in-time decisions basis regular updates and the ‘single pane of glass’ also works for circulating important circulars related to compliances, regulations, ATMs, NOTAMS, etc all in one place to help planning operations accordingly in a much smoother mechanism and not be buried under a ton of email traffic.

How does Zvolv help in the agile transformation of the Aviation Industry?

Around 38% of organizations worldwide are facing the challenge of building a strong IT infrastructure and many are facing a tremendous shortage in skilled employees. Well this isn’t good when it comes to recovering or growing, then how will agility be implemented in business operations, if there is no scope for digital development. This is where Zvolv comes into picture. 

Zvolv is an intelligent low-code/no-code automation platform that enables business technologists to develop applications that help in optimizing business processes and transform digitally. The platform interface provides teams across the aviation industry – airside management, logistic management, engineering, support and many more to collaborate and develop different applications as per the need of their department. 

Download the 7-day action plan to start evolving business processes on Zvolv.