Importance of Mobile Applications in Airline Industry - Qatar Airways - Coursework Example

Airline Industry Applications Introduction In recent times, the worldwide airline industry is witnessing immense transformations in the respective operational environment due to increased level of globalization and innovation made in technologies. With this regard, the use of distinct mobile applications as well as mobile technologies has certainly increased in airline industry for performing various operational works through online in order to cope up with such transformations. The demand of mobile application in the global airline industry has increased at large, as this provides 24 hours services and more importantly easy to use. With the help of using different mobile applications such as QLOUD and Knowledge-driven In-flight Solution (KIS), it is easy to access distinct sorts of information anytime and in anywhere (Ravichandran, 2011). In earlier times, the mobile applications were used in a modest way; however, these have been progressed in this modern day context providing advanced facilities to the people. Mobile applications can be defined as software or programs that are used in mobile devices (Islam, Islam & Mazumder, 2015). The airline industry generally uses the above stated mobile technologies or mobile applications amongst others to enhance the service processes and also offering best services to the passengers. In this modern day context, the global airline industry is identified to use mobile applications for deriving cost-effective solutions in their respective operational functions. It can be apparently observed that the worldwide airline industry has changed with significant improvements made in the respective business processes by using mobile technology. These improvements could be reckoned as developing the facility of electronic ticket and introducing the system of online check-in. By using mobile applications, it can be inferred that the airline industry is able to ensure providing better and quality services to the customers with having greater control over costs to be incurred during the process (NIIT, 2012). There are several airline based companies that have become much popular for providing quality services to the users by the use of distinct mobile applications. In this regard, such airline companies include Qatar Airways, Emirates Airways, British Airways and United Airlines. These four popular airline companies use different mobile applications including QLOUD, KIS, electronic or wireless bag tag and Travel card and Travel wallet. These mobile apps have been taken into concern for discussion while comparing the same amid the aforesaid airline companies owing to the reason that these apps enhance their respective operational works and satisfy the demands of the passengers by offering them with the desired services. Mobile applications make the life of people comfortable, providing an opportunity to revolutionize different important objects, places or things (Lock, Fattah & Kirby, 2010). With this concern, the essay intends to discuss about four mobile applications in the airline industry and the importance of the same in different airline based companies such as Qatar Airways, Emirates Airways, British Airways and United Airlines. Importance of Mobile Applications in Airline Industry Mobile applications are reckoned to be such programs and software of mobile devices that are used for performing several operations through online. In this contemporary business world, the demand of using different mobile applications has raised as compared to the previous years due to rapid advancements in technology and the increased use of internet. Mobile applications possess certain significance based on their several functions or attributes that include inexpensive and easy to access and user-friendly. Due to these attributes, people can download mobile apps and likewise run programs in their respective mobile devices for conducting varied operational works. In this similar concern, airline industry also used mobile applications to enhance its operational as well as overall performance by performing respective functions through online (Antigoni, Maria, Emmanouil & Vasiliki, 2014). It is projected that through better and effective use of different mobile applications, the global airline industry can improve its check-in system. Before entering the flight, certain important operational activities including check-in and boarding pass among others are likely to occur. Therefore, by using mobile applications, the airline industry can develop the entire check-in process and certainly makes it easy to save the time of the passengers. Apart from this, by using mobile applications, the operational members are able to provide updated information to the passengers regarding flight information, instructions about nearest parking facility and mapping. With the help of using dissimilar mobile applications, the worldwide airline industry generally tends to enhance the efficiency and the effectiveness of its operational procedures as per the desired level. More importantly, use of mobile applications can also be useful to improve the online experiences of staff members of airline industry (Antigoni, Maria, Emmanouil & Vasiliki, 2014). Mobile technology imposes greater level of impact on the operations of airline industry that mainly entail ticketing systems and flight operations among others. By using different mobile applications, the airline industry can reduce any sort of disturbance being created in the operational domain while satisfying the demands of the passengers based on their needs. Airline industry introduces advanced level of mobile apps that can be beneficial for the operational team to obtain the information about their respective job roles. By using such applications, pilots are able to complete their respective tasks within a specific time and also providing better quality of services to the passengers or the customers. In recent trends, mobile application is reckoned to be an essential and useful factor for the airline industry, as this sort of application helps the industry to improve its overall performance. Apart from this, the airline industry also uses potential mobile applications for providing better opportunities to the passengers or the customers during the time of flight services (Pagiavlas, Marburger, Stratmann & Young, 2005). With the help of the above stated application program, the operational team and the staff members of airline industry are able to perform their responsibilities effectively and likewise enhance their performance. By using mobile applications, they can also share information about flight services and the departure time for assisting the passengers within the airport. In this regard, it can be ascertained that mobile applications are helpful for obtaining useful information, earning profits and improving overall performance. By using distinct mobile applications, it is also possible to acquire information about the lost baggage services related to airline industry. In this competitive business market, the use of different mobile applications is deemed to be much important for the airline industry to improve its business process, as this tends to make effective decisions regarding various airline services (Pagiavlas, Marburger, Stratmann & Young, 2005). Types of Mobile Applications Used by Four Selected Airline Companies Based on the above discussion, it can be stated that mobile applications are recognized to be a significant factor for conducting several operational activities of airline industry in an efficient way. Currently, mobile applications are becoming an integral part for delegating online operational activities as well as gathering passengers’ experiences. Basically, there lay certain segments for which mobile applications are being used within the airline industry. These segments mainly include passenger centric and internal airlines based operations (NIIT Technology, 2012). It is eminent to state that there are four popular airline based companies that depended more on using mobile application software for developing their respective performance. More specifically, it can be affirmed that such four airline companies have used distinct sorts of mobile applications for performing their internal operations successfully. These four popular airline companies include Qatar Airways, Emirates Airways, British Airways as well as United Airlines. The varied sorts of mobile companies used by these companies have been discussed in detail below. Qatar Airways and its Mobile Application Qatar Airways is recognized to be one of the most popular airline companies in the Middle East region. This airline company is observed to use several mobile applications for performing its varied operational functions. Mobile applications have been playing a decisive part in enhancing the performance of Qatar Airways. In this regard, Qatar Airways has designed a new and innovative mobile application, which proved to be beneficial for the staff members of the company. In this regard, QLOUD is referred to be one of the most advanced apps, which has been used by Qatar Airways. This particular application proved to be much useful specifically for the pilots in terms of providing real time as well as decision based information to the respective authorities (Storm Interactive™ Technologies, 2012). While discussing about the application QLOUD and its usefulness in terms of assisting the pilots of Qatar Airways, it can be found that initially, over 500 pilots used this kind of new technology while performing their respective duties. It is expected that the application of QLOUD is user friendly software, which can be used by approximately 2500 pilots of Qatar Airways. By reviewing the QLOUD system, it can be expected that Qatar Airways has used this technology in an innovative way with the intention of deriving varied positive outcomes and also reaping several significant benefits (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). It is worth mentioning that this mobile app by Qatar Airways is adequately user friendly. QLOUD can also be accessed through Google Play, App Stores and other online app stores such as Apple Apps stores. Stating precisely, QLOUD Media can be accessed through Google Play. It is also expected that the application QLOUD is also deemed to be much popular amid the pilots within the industry. Especially, the pilots of Qatar Airways really appreciated this application named QLOUD. Justifiably, by using this application, the pilots have been able to perform numerous jobs within their time limits. QLOUD also allows the pilots of Qatar Airways to check-in for their respective duties, as it implies several downloads as well as installations, without compromising the quality of services delivered. On the other hand, by using the QLOUD application, the pilots are also able to retrieve the important pre-flight information, which includes flight plans, maps, weather information, schedules and details of crew members with whom they are flying with. Therefore, it can be ascertained that the users can use this app through their smart phones and tablets also, delivering them with greater convenience and hence, moving a step forth to claim their satisfaction. Besides, the pilots acquire information about the destinations, hotels and other dispatch related briefs with using such app (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). Emirates Airline and its Mobile Application Emirates Airline is also viewed to be an international airline, which laid the foundation of providing outstanding customer services within the industry. To provide all the possible comforts to its valued customers, the airline company made deliberate efforts to offer quality services to the passengers as per their desired level. In this regard, the company remained engaged in running a proprietary application, which is known as Knowledge-driven In-flight Solution (KIS), for offering quality services to the users. The application is observed to be much beneficial for the customers or the clients of Emirates Airlines. It is identified that Emirates Airlines does not allow a flight without having KIS laptop on board. Apart from providing the KIS laptop services, the company also allows its passengers to use their respective tabs and mobile phones during the flight services (Amadeus IT Group, 2011). Currently, Emirates Airline has brought new technological innovation within the industry. With this concern, the company has been able to empower its airport staff members with latest mobile applications, which can be accessed through Google Apps stores, Apple mobile apps stores as well as other mobile stores as well. This application has been designed for delivering the best services to its customers. This mobile application is recognized as a journey manager and it is authorized to get used only by the airport ground staff members of the company. This process is mainly developed for supporting the airlines employees to respond as per the customers’ requirements. Illustratively, in the process, the journey manager is entitled to provide real time information to the employees. The application has been developed by Emirates in alliance with Samsung and Etisalat. The application runs with the recently launched device, Samsung Note 4. In this regard, it must also be mentioned that the application journey manager is much user friendly in nature (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). British Airways and Its Mobile Application British Airways is one of the famous names in the international airlines industry. The airline company is renowned in playing an imperative part towards meeting its customers’ needs along with providing them with an unexpected surprising product and/or service that does not fulfill such needs. More specifically, British Airways has launched a mobile app, which can be used by its employees and customers as well. It can be affirmed that through this mobile app, the customers can see their flight boarding pass and track their flights boarding status (Storm Interactive™ Technologies, 2012). Another most popular mobile application used by the company is electronic bag tag. This electronic mobile bag tag can be operated through the use of distinct mobile applications. Passengers and the employees of British Airways can use their respective smart phones for check in flights, selecting their seats along with obtaining the same. The electronic bag-tag has unique bar codes. These barcodes and flight details are generally provided to the customers in their smart phones (British Airways, 2013). The wireless mobile bag tag has been developed by using the Microsoft technology. This bag tag mainly contains the customers’ bagged details and provides them with all the details along with the unique bar code in their specific accounts. Customers can access their journey details by navigating British Airway’s mobile app. This mobile app can be downloaded from the Google App stores and operated by using Microsoft Lumia Windows Phone. The application also provides substantial support to the tablet devise users. However, the application is not found in different platforms and hence, indicates a limitation of the same (British Airways, 2013). United Airlines and Its Mobile Application Similar to the above discussed airline companies, United Airlines is also observed to use a new mobile application, which can also be executed by the customers worldwide. The mobile application is only supported to iPhone and the name of this app is identified to be Apple’s Passbook. After a long period of time, this application is also launched within the Android mobile phone users. This application is much useful for the customers including wide range of benefits. The most famous benefits could be ascertained as Travel card and Travel wallet. The benefit of Travel card gets related to mobile boarding passes (United Airlines, Inc., 2015). Customers can easily access or download this mobile application from the Apple application stores. Besides, this card also includes the benefits of Mileage Plus cards and United Club cards. These cards provide adequate support to the customers relating to non-monetary benefits that they are eligible to acquire during their travelling period. This app is now found on different platforms. Currently, United Airways has invented its mobile application for the popular operating system, the iOS7 app (Amadeus IT Group, 2011). Comparison of the Mobile Applications Used by the Airline Companies While comparing the different mobile applications that used by the airline companies including Qatar Airways, Emirate Airlines, British Airways and United Airlines, it became much clear that these companies relied mainly on such applications for reaping several significant benefits. With this concern, it is to be inferred that Qatar Airways has used advanced technologies and mobile applications for performing its distinct operational works effectively and also enhancing its overall performance. The airline company mainly used QLOUD as the mobile app while performing varied operational functions. In contrast, Emirates Airline used Journey manager mobile application for its operations. In terms of functionality, it can be affirmed that QLOUD mobile application is only useful for pilots, as this type of mobile application provides actual information about the operational works, check-in and pre-flight related data (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). On the other hand, journey manager mobile is applicable for the ground staff members of Emirates. With the help of QLOUD mobile application, the pilots of Qatar Airways are able to schedule the training program. Apart from this, the pilots can also obtain relevant information about the hotels and destinations among others. In comparison with QLOUD application, the ground staff of Emirates can locate the actual destinations of passengers and they can also provide information about the departure time and flight information to them by using the app of journey manager mobile. Both mobile applications are useful for improving the performance of the respective airline companies, but their functions are deemed to be different from one another (Amadeus IT Group, 2011). In comparison of QLOUD application with journey manager application, it can be apparently observed that QLOUD application is regarded as an important tool for carrying out different operational woks of Qatar Airways and journey manager application is essential for the ground works of Emirates Airlines. With the help of QLOUD mobile application program, the pilots avail the facility to access emails and incorporate quality improvements in the operational procedure. While comparing the two mobile apps i.e. QLOUD and journey manager mobile application, it can be evaluated that QLOUD mobile application is mainly used for the operations of airport and flight scheduling. On the other hand, journey manager mobile application is found to be customer centric, as it is mainly used for providing flight details to the passengers or the customers. QLOUD has been in use by pilots through iPADs, promoted by the company itself, eradicating its limitation of usability. On the other hand, journey manager is only accessed through Samsung Note 4, which however indicates its limited usability as compared to other apps, accessible in different platforms. QLOUD can also be used by pilots in the aircraft deck also, but journey manager cannot be used in the aircraft deck by the pilots. QLOUD is also useful in supporting the on-board Electronic Flight Bag technology, while Journey manager is mostly used for scanning boarding pass, checking delayed flight information and gates of the next flight departure (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). British Airways is also reckoned to be the other airline company, which has used new, better and innovative technology based mobile application for providing better quality of services to the passengers or the customers. In this regard, it can be found that British Airways used digital bag tag mobile application for providing better opportunities to the passengers during the time of flight service (British Airways, 2013). On the other hand, United Airlines used travel card and travel wallet for improvising its online work performance. In comparison of digital bag tag mobile application with travel card as well as travel wallet, it is to be affirmed that with the help of digital bag tag mobile application, the passengers can obtain detailed information about their journey such as flight and seat details. On the other hand, with the help of travel card and travel wallet mobile application, the passengers can acquire the information about the departure time (United Airlines, Inc., 2015). Both the above stated mobile applications are user friendly in nature for the customers, but their way of applications are deemed to be different from one another. By using the digital bag tag mobile application in tab and smart phone, the passengers also obtain data about bag destination. In contrast, United Airlines used travel card and travel wallet mobile applications to provide comprehensive information to the passengers about reservation details. The bag tag mobile application is also helpful for the employees of British Airways, as with the help of this type of mobile application; the employees also obtain the information about the bag destination details of the passengers. It also helps to save the time of passengers during boarding. On the other hand, travel card and travel wallet mobile applications also save the time of passengers by providing the details about reservation and boarding pass. In this regard, it can be assessed that digital bag tag and travel card along with travel wallet are customer centric applications based on different functions (United Airlines, Inc., 2015; British Airways, 2013). From the above comparison, it can be evaluated that the mobile applications including QLOUD, journey manager, digital tag bag and travel club along with travel wallet are different from one another based on diverse operational works and services. QLOUD mobile application is a popular mobile application for pilots, as this provides real information to them regarding check-in details for delivering the best services to the customers or the passengers. Journey manager is a mobile application, which is only used by employees and ground staff members for providing the best services to the passengers or clients based on their requirements. On the other hand, digital tag bag mobile application is also a popular and useful application for the clients, as it provides the information about the status of boarding pass (Arabian Aerospace, 2015). With the help of using digital tag bag application program, passengers or customers can also book their seats based on their requirements, which is duly considered to be one of its advantages as compared to other mobile applications. Digital tag bag mobile application can be used within iPhone and smart phones. Travel card and travel wallet mobile applications are essential for the passengers or the customers, as these provide flight along with reservation details to them. By using the travel card and travel wallet mobile applications, the passengers can also avail non-monetary benefits. From the above comparison, it can be evaluated that these four applications eventually make the people to access diverse sorts of functions that offer by different airline companies. In this regard, such functions could be ascertained as booking tickets, checking out the reservation details and also tracking the boarding status among others (Amadeus IT Group, 2011). Recommendations The above analysis signifies the fact that the four selected airline companies are well recognized for offering quality services to their respective potential customers worldwide. Though these airline companies are quite efficient in using different apps in an effective way, still there persist certain loopholes or pitfalls. Qatar Airways has invented a mobile application only for all of its pilots. Thus, it is clear that the company has paid utmost attention on providing greater level of operational support to the pilots. In this regard, it is suggested that the airline company should also develop a mobile application for its other employees in order to build intra-team communication. It has been earlier mentioned that by using QLOUD application tool, the pilots can learn about their journey and acquire detailed information about the destinations (Amadeus IT Group, 2011). With this concern, it is suggested that the app QLOUD should also contain extensive level of operational data relating to operational procedures of the. Moreover, the airline company may also develop a separate mobile application program for making connection with the co relevant employees. Besides, the company should also introduce this similar kind of application for the customers also. It can be found that Emirates Airlines has used or developed mobile application for its ground staff members for supporting them during their departure in the airport only. The company Emirates is recommended to use the technology of KIS in the mobile phone and build effective communication amid the customers and the staff. The KIS technology is deemed to be much important and useful for operating by the laptop and smart phone users during flying via plain (Storm Interactive™ Technologies, 2012). By using this kind of application, the travelers will be able to connect with the customer care services department for any requirement. Similarly, the airline company i.e. Emirates is also recommended to develop KIS in a secured way. Moreover, the company is also recommended to develop its networks in such a manner, so that these would contribute into developing functions such as flight operations. The company i.e. British Airways is regarded as one of the foremost companies operating in the global airline industry in terms of application of technological devices in its varied functional procedures. It has been apparently noted that the company has developed its mobile application only for the Microsoft Lumia users. In this regard, the company is also recommended to develop its mobile application for android phone users also in order to raise its acceptability. Conclusions Based on the above analysis and discussion, it will be vital to mention that in the modern scenario, the application of innovative technologies is recognized to be a common factor in every industry. Similarly, as per the recent scenario, the use of mobile applications in the worldwide airlines industry is now becoming one of the most essential and significant factors. This can be justified with reference to the fact that the use of diversified mobile applications in the airlines industry has brought e number of benefits for the companies as well as the customers also. It must be mentioned in relation to the above context that the modern customers also prefer the use of mobile applications during their journey via flight. Thus, it can be affirmed that the use of different mobile applications is recognized to be much significant for the development of a company’s reputation. It is worth mentioning that the airlines industry has used distinct mobile application services with the intention of providing better customer services as well as fulfill customers’ requirements as per the desired level. Specially mentioning, Qatar Airlines and Emirates Airlines are reckoned to be the major market players of airlines industry that belong to GCC nations. In this regard, both the companies are able to develop quality mobile applications for meeting their customers’ demands as well as employees’ requirements. Justifiably, the mobile application i.e. QLOUD system has been incorporated by Qatar Airways in its operational framework, which supported the pilots of the company to obtain relevant information and perform their respective duties efficiently. Thus, it is evident that the pilots and other operational team members along with the customers of the company obtained several significant benefits by using QLOUD system as an efficient mobile app. On the other hand, British Airlines is also recognized to be more innovative and popular internationally based airline service providers in this modern business world. By reviewing the mobile applications used by this airline company, it can be found that this airline company is deemed to be efficient in terms of offering quality services to its potential worldwide customers by using innovative mobile Applications. On the other hand, the United Airlines is also able to satisfy its customers through better use of mobile application such as travel card and travel wallet. References Arabian Aerospace. (2015). Qatar airways introduces mobile app for pilots. Retrieved from http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/qatar-airways-introduces-mobile-app-for-pilots.html Amadeus IT Group. (2011). 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