AirAsia enlists Google for help in digital transformation

AirAsia is working with Google Cloud to bring machine learning and artificial intelligence to the airline as part of its digital transformation.

The company has been working with a number of Google products and services such as Google + and Google Drive for a number of years and decided to extend this further.

The technology will help AirAsia to better optimize its data and further develop its online and loyalty program platforms according to group chief executive Tony Fernandes who was speaking at last week’s Google Cloud Next 18 event in London.

His segment is here from 27m00s...

“We have A huge amount of data, collected over the past 17 years, and Google cloud has enabled us to get that data into a position where we can do much more with it.

He says that work is being carried out in a number of areas working in a number of areas to drive operational efficiency.

For example, aircraft have been fitted with about 20,000 sensors to help the carrier predict maintenance and reduce spare parts.

A further example, according to Fernandes, is in predicting weather patterns and using weather models to predict future delays.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to tell you before you get to the airport that there’s going to be a storm so don’t turn up.”

A final area being targeted by AirAsia is demand forecasting and ways to improve the operational experience for passengers.

Fernandes says the airline is even testing facial recognition as well as the potential to use Google Cloud to gauge sentiment.

In a statement announcing AirAsia’s work with Google Cloud, Fernandes says it enables the airline to “build new businesses.”

“We are building two big platforms: airasia.com, which will be our one-stop digital travel platform where our customers can book their travel needs from flights, accommodation, tours, ground transport to entertainments; and BigLife, our lifestyle site which will be like Kayak, Tripadvisor, Groupon and eBay rolled into one.“

He adds that BigLife will also incorporate all of the group’s investments within its RedBeat Ventures digital arm including its money app BigPay and its online marketplace Ourshop.

Fernandes says the ambition is to go from airline to digital travel company which he describes as “a huge mission.”