Innovating Travel: Market Research Partnership with Schipol Airport

What we do

As Schiphol Airport's open innovation partner, together with NLMTD, we helped them address baggage handling challenges impacting working conditions and critical for their automation goals for 2050.

Together, TNW and NLMTD are the Open Innovation Partners and Ecosystem Orchestrators of the Royal Schiphol Group (RSG) to help achieve the group’s 2050 mission “Connecting Your World”. Driven by the need for new solutions for its employees’ working environment, Schiphol is looking to improve the labour conditions in its baggage handling operations. In order for RSG to gain a comprehensive understanding of market developments, technology maturity, and possible future directions, we scouted for new solutions, researched emerging technologies, and analysed market trends.

How we did it

We combined market analysis, technology scouting, and expert interviews to identify solutions. This included assessing emerging technologies and gathering insights from 10+ industry professionals and 20+ solution providers.

Challenge: Reducing Emissions: Detecting APU Usage for Sustainable Airside Operations

Schiphol Airport is committed to lowering airside emissions by encouraging pilots to turn off the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) promptly. This research explored current technologies for detecting APU usage, enabling Schiphol to monitor compliance and enforce sustainability guidelines effectively. By identifying solutions that verify APU status, Schiphol is equipped to implement practices that support eco-friendly airside operations, aligning with its environmental goals.

Challenge: Piloting the First Autonomous Shuttle Service at Schiphol Airport

The Royal Schiphol Group is leading the way toward Autonomous Airside operations by upgrading its shuttle transportation services. This research focused on scouting potential Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) with the specifications required to navigate Schiphol Airport’s diverse airside roads. The findings culminated in a successful Proof-of-Concept (PoC) of Schiphol's first autonomous shuttle service, marking a significant step toward improving operational efficiency and sustainability in airport logistics. Read more about the ongoing PoC project here. 

Our Impact

Three viable solutions for improving Schiphol's baggage handling process, each with a detailed implementation roadmap. This gave them actionable options to leverage automation and enhance working conditions.