Turning Airport Data Analytics Into Actionable Insights

Did you know we create an average of 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily? By 2025, the amount of data generated each day is expected to reach a whopping 463 exabytes globally. For reference, an Exabyte is an enormous data unit, with one Exabyte equaling one billion gigabytes. A mind-boggling statistic that will only continue to grow with our uptake of digital devices and preference for online interactions.

Of course, more data is a positive thing, especially when improving business intelligence and customer satisfaction. However, for airport managers and marketers, the sheer volume of data available can also present challenges.
With so much data available, how can you turn it into actionable insights for your airport? Let’s take a closer look.

Understanding the difference between reporting and analytics

First things first, it’s essential to have a clear understanding between reports and analytics.

Airport marketers need reports. They have a wide range of purposes, from tracking and measuring campaigns to customer profiling, all of which helps marketers assign resources and target customers with relevant messaging. Reports are great for presenting data, but there’s a limit to what they can help you achieve.

To produce actionable insights for your airport, you need quality data analytics. It’s the data analytics that will tell you what action you should take to improve your most vital metrics.

Drawing insights from your data may seem like a relatively easy process, but you’ll be surprised to hear how many airports struggle to make their data work for them. Providing you have a secure, compliant process in place, data collection is straightforward. However, to make the data you collect useful, you’ll need to consider the steps below.

10 Core Steps for turning airport data analytics into actionable insights

1. Measure the right things

You can’t optimise something you haven’t measured, as you won’t know if your campaign was a success or failure, let alone how to make it better.

Look at your analytics in the context of specific operations. If, for example, your airport runs an ecommerce site for bookings and parking, you’ll likely want to know:

• Which channels drive the most conversions?
• Where customers tend to drop off your website
• What are the look-to-book ratios for each product / service and category?
• Do customers use multiple devices during the booking journey?
• Which of your landing pages need optimising, and on which channel?
• Where in the booking journey could you offer value in the form of upsells and cross-sells?
• What are your customers biggest pain points regarding booking online?
• How can you take steps to make your booking journey seamless?

To clarify what you need to measure, you need to think about the end result and ask yourself what’s most important to your airport and customers? By starting with a clear picture of what you want to achieve, you can establish a robust set of key performance indicators and narrow your focus.

2. Ask the right questions

The best way to work out what your customers really want is to ask them. Asking for feedback not only gives you clear insight into customer experience but engages customers and stakeholders, ensuring they feel valued and important.

But it helps to ask the right question, so you have a good starting point from which to analyse the data that comes back.

There are numerous ways you can gather customer feedback, from integrating polls during the online booking journey to emailing out surveys and even QR code scanning at your airport.

3. Drive positive action with segmentation

When it comes to getting the most from your data analytics, segmentation is a powerful tool. For B2B and B2C interactions, grouping customers, subscribers, prospects and site visitors with similar attributes will assist you in building more detailed insights.

By identifying and analysing segments of your customer base, you will gain a much deeper understanding of how they behave. This will help you answer specific business questions and develop a clear optimisation plan.

4. Visualise your data to show results

The easier your data analytics is to understand, the better. Any member of your team should be able to look at it and have a clear idea of what it means. Promote clarity and cognition with user-friendly, visualised data reports. Make it easy for insights to be drawn from the data so you can make profitable and timely business decisions.

5. Develop a futureproof and scalable optimisation plan

Here at Rezcomm, we like to use the acronym DMAIC to improve business strategies. DMAIC stands for ‘Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control’ and is a process you can apply to any business situation or problem.

• Define the problem or question and the range of analysis.
• Measure relevant data and analyse it to uncover anomalies
• Analyse relationships, patterns and pain points by looking at your data visualisations
• Establish where you can make improvements based on insights
• Implement control by using A/B testing and monitoring your key performance indicators

6. Understand the context surrounding your data

Establish the context of the data you are studying. What do the figures mean, and why are they important? How do they affect your airport business?

Without this context, the data may result in decisions based on preconceptions, opinions, or misinterpretations and deter your overall strategy. Context is essential for solid business decisions based on fact.7. Have a clear hypothesis to formulate a strategy

7. Have a clear hypothesis to formulate a strategy

The starting point of any analysis should begin with a clear hypothesis that can drive action. According to SmartInsights, the best way to create a clear hypothesis is with the following statements:

• I believe [insert what you think will happen]
• If I am right, we will [this is the qualification of what will happen if the hypothesis is correct]

Creating a clear hypothesis can be challenging but worthwhile, as it’ll save you time and produce more focused actionable insights to drive business decisions.

8. Break down organisational silos

Creating actionable airport data analytics insights requires a good flow of communication within your team. Without this, valuable information can get stuck in the system, preventing you from making crucial business decisions.

Develop a culture of inspiration, motivation and curiosity – where your whole team is excited by the potential of data to transform your airport. Make it a top priority to solve any communication problems within your business.

9. Integrate your data sources

Collect data from all sources and platforms and store it in a safe, single location for easier analysis. Integrating data from all sources will deliver clear insights and deepen your understanding of customers, ultimately helping your airport make better, faster decisions.

10. Hire the right team

Software that collects, stores, segments and analyses data is invaluable to your airport but equally as important is your team. Find people who understand the industry and create bespoke strategies from your unique data to differentiate your airport.

The Rezcomm team are experts in accelerating airport revenue with smart, intuitive tech, neatly packaged up and available as The Rezcomm Marketplace Solution.

Simplify your data with our Business modules

Support your team with single administration, centralised customer information management, business intelligence and analytics, reporting, and forecasting. Our Business modules make your life easier, with increased visibility of your entire operations. Eliminate the complexity of managing your data and enjoy easy-to-use dashboards and visual reports to help your team quickly draw actionable insights. Centralise all business intelligence for more meaningful and valuable decision making.

Experience the power of a single platform behind you and benefit from expert support on your side. Think of us as an extension of your team. With years of experience in the industry, specialist knowledge, and intuitive tech built for airports, Rezcomm is the top choice for turning your data analytics into actionable insights and driving your airport forward. Contact us today to find out more about our business modules and Rezcomm Marketplace.