Finnair and IBM have announced a first-of-its-kind agreement to utilise iOS enterprise apps from IBM to support the airline’s overall digital transformation.
In preparation for growth, Finnair has recruited more than 500 employees, rolled out new aircraft and launched new routes this year. Now, Finnair seeks to improve its processes and enhance the customer experience through digital transformation.
"Our collaboration with Apple and IBM is an important building block in our digital transformation," says Katri Harra-Salonen, Chief Digital Officer, Finnair. "We want to link our employees with the insights they need to make better decisions. This collaboration enables a user focused, high quality, yet cost effective way of developing digital solutions, helping us to improve the way we operate as an airline."
First applications from the collaboration will be deployed in Finnair Technical Operations in aircraft line maintenance in early 2017.
“We see a wealth of opportunities for improving productivity as well as adding value to the work flow of our employees, by improving real-time visibility and transparency across the entire maintenance process," says Jari Huhtinen, Head of Finnair Technical Operations. "Our mechanics team participated in the application creation work with Apple and IBM to ensure the best possible design, user experience and fit into our organizational processes."
The first apps to be rolled out within the agreement are:
• Inspect & Turn provides aircraft mechanics with digital task cards and documentation with analytics-driven recommendations to complete work assignments to ensure the safe upkeep of aircraft and achievement of on-time arrival and departure targets.
• Assign Tech provides aircraft mechanic supervisors a clear overview of flight schedules, maintenance process and mechanic availability. Using advanced analytics, the app recommends optimal shift assignments and incorporates the skills and certifications of each mechanic. Push notifications also alert supervisors to flight delays process issues, so they can easily make changes on the fly.