Airports receive data from numerous sources, yet limited visibility drives a lack of situational awareness. Sometimes this data is highly valuable, while other times an influx of data noise distracts from genuine opportunities. This disparate, siloed data can divert staff from their central tasks, signaling a compelling opportunity for unification and efficiency.
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) saw an opportunity to leverage their data to predict these situational exceptions. In partnership with software development company, Differential, CVG created a first-of-its-kind tool using data for predictive analytics and proactive notifications, now known as Enterprise Awareness & Situational Exceptions (EASE).
EASE was born out of CVG’s Innovation Center, the living laboratory to test technology and improve processes. The robust platform helps airports solve operational obstacles before they become problems. It provides timely and meaningful workflows allowing staff to be proactive in the dynamic circumstances that are familiar at airports. EASE uniquely collects structured and unstructured data from all parts of the enterprise, allowing even the most disparate datasets to optimize airport processes for efficiency.
“Airports are complex enterprises, and the EASE team gets it. We aimed to simplify by providing visual awareness and alerting only on situational exceptions. With EASE, we can minimize staff inefficiencies and reduce the confusion of unknown factors. We believe we can do better, and we can do it better with EASE.” – Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer
The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the forefront for the industry, amplifying the significance of data-driven decision-making for airports. As travel patterns shifted, media chaos surged, and uncertainties loomed, the importance of timely and accurate information became paramount.
EASE transcends the norm of daily planning and passenger arrival volume prediction. It fuels airport digital transformations to make airports work better and improve the travel experience for all. By developing a robust, secure data platform with a diverse array of enterprise datasets, EASE acts as a catalyst for modern airport operations.
The success of EASE has garnered interest from other major airports, demonstrating its potential to unlock value for aviation stakeholders. Users have praised the platform for its ability to consolidate and present data in a user-friendly manner, eliminating the need to navigate multiple pages for information.
From its inception in CVG’s innovative hub to its global applications, EASE continues to transform airport operations. By giving a seat at the table to all data, irrespective of format or location, EASE is guiding the industry towards a more data-driven future.