A Holistic Approach to Investing in Technology to Manage Change at Airports

In today's competitive landscape, airports that embrace digital transformation gain a significant advantage over airports using legacy systems for operational management. By embracing digitization and technological advancements, airports can navigate complexities in the decision-making process while reducing operational costs and driving sustainable growth and resilience.

Investments in technologies require a holistic approach that aligns with strategic objectives, effectively addresses challenges, and ensures efficient resource utilization.

• Alignment with Strategic Objectives is paramount to the effectiveness of investments. Whether aiming to increase enplanements, enhance operational efficiency, or capitalize on real estate, investments should be aligned with the airports long-term vision. By prioritizing projects that support strategic objectives outlined in the master plan, airports can ensure that technology investments contribute meaningfully to their overarching goals.
  
  Harnessing the power of data enables airports to make informed decisions. Technologies that incorporate scenario-based queries and AI-powered features can provide valuable insights in forecasting and financial analysis for capital planning and unexpected industry and environmental changes.
  
  
  McFarland Johnson's AVIAS DAT (Dynamic Analysis Tool) utilizes AI-powered, scenario-based queries for forecasting and financial analysis.

• Optimizing Investment Impact - Effective resource utilization and addressing critical challenges are key to maximizing the impact of technological investments at airports. By allocating resources judiciously and focusing on solutions that meet the crucial needs outlined in the master plan, airports can optimize the use of their investments. This strategic focus not only helps in staying within budgetary constraints, but also ensures that technological upgrades contribute to enhanced operational efficiency and the achievement of long-term strategic goals. Prioritizing projects that address both immediate needs and potential future challenges allows airports to adapt to changing conditions and maintain resilience, ultimately maximizing the return on investment and sustaining long-term success.
  
  Automation and digitization play a critical role in improving efficiency over legacy processes within airports, reducing manual errors, and enhancing operational efficiency. By centralizing data and streamlining processes, airports also contribute to significant cost savings over time, maximizing their return on investment.

• Adaptability to Changing Conditions is key to ensuring the longevity of technology investments. As airports face evolving conditions such as fluctuating enplanements, regulatory changes, or technological advancements, investments must be adaptable to future uncertainties. By implementing advanced technologies that can quickly accommodate changing conditions, airports can maintain resilience and agility in a dynamic environment.
  
  
  McFarland Johnson's AVIAS DAT using scenario-based forecasting enables airports to predict the impact of changes before they happen.

• Measurable Outcomes are essential for evaluating the effectiveness of investments over time. Investments should yield clear, measurable outcomes that can be tracked and evaluated against predefined metrics and KPIs. This enables stakeholders to assess effectiveness and make informed decisions regarding future investment priorities, ensuring that investments continue to deliver value over the long term.

  
  McFarland Johnson's AVIAS SITES generates proformas providing the value and ROI on potential long-term investments.

• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration are critical for maximizing the usability of investments. Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders in the decision-making process from evaluating effectiveness of solutions to help identify unforeseen challenges can foster buy-in and support for technology and enhance the usability of investments by ensuring that they meet diverse needs and priorities.
  
  
  MaineDOT stakeholders include the 35 airports and approximately 20 consultants. Special teams were created in the process of customizing the AVIAS CAPLAN Airport System Planning application to enhance usability.

• Sustainability and Resilience are fundamental considerations for usable investments. By prioritizing sustainability and resilience, airports can address environmental factors such as carbon emissions reduction, resource conservation, and climate change mitigation. This ensures the long-term viability of investments and environmental challenges, contributing to the overall  sustainability of airport operations.

Embracing digital transformation and technological advancements is more than a trend - it is a strategic imperative for airports aiming to maintain a competitive edge. By investing in state-of-the-art technologies that align with strategic objectives, optimize resource allocation, and adapt to dynamic conditions, airports can not only achieve significant operational efficiencies but also drive sustainable growth and resilience.