It’s no surprise that artificial intelligence is high on the list of top tech trends in 2020. AI was arguably one of the booming trends in technology over the past few years and is projected to continue in the coming years. But, will the current COVID 19 pandemic become a roadblock to this growth trajectory? Well, indeed, not!

Today, companies in different market segments are making efficient use of artificial intelligence to plan their next action course, and the travel industry is no exception. From maintaining social distancing to ensuring digital entertainment, AI technology is helping to build a safer and smoother travel experience. Reviewing the travel industry landscape, we have explored how artificial intelligence is revamping practically at every stage of the travel experience during the COVID-19 pandemic situation. 

Ways Artificial Intelligence is Making Travel Safer during the COVID-19 Pandemic

#1: Enhanced Customer Service with Chatbot

During the first half of 2020, travel come to a complete halt due to the rapid spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation is coming under control these days, and the travel industry is slowly picking up. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated companies in the travel industries to revamp their policies related to cancellation, rescheduling, rebooking, etc. It has gradually increased customer queries, and eventually, the ticket volume is on the rise. 

Airlines and Travel Companies took advantage of the COVID-19 initial days and developed AI-driven air ticketing solutions. It has helped customer care providers resolve customer queries without delays and eventually aided customers in planning their travels efficiently. Moreover, artificial intelligence-enabled virtual assistants have made customers avoid face-to-face interaction with customer care executives.

#2: AI to Reduce Physical Contact during Travel

As the current crisis demands people to maintain social distancing during travel, firms in the travel industry are looking to identify innovative ways to balance social distancing and the prospect of large crowds. Today, AI-powered bots are being utilized to handle baggage and AI-powered facial recognition machines to cross-check travel details instantly. These tech trends will play a crucial role in the travel company’s needs to minimize physical contact while assisting its customers. 

A new hands-free cloud-based kiosk is also being developed to assess a passenger’s vital signs. The kiosk detects a person’s temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Furthermore, travelers can also control the kiosks with their voice or head movements, avoiding physical contact.

#3: Enhanced Security during Travel

Security is a significant concern during travel. As such, businesses will need to ensure security to travelers while ensuring physical distancing. Some airports are already leveraging artificial intelligence-powered body scanner that scans everything from shoes to laptops to jewelry, and much more.

During this time of upheaval, companies are even using tech to avoid manually checking items inside a bag. Today, they are replaced with scanners that can differentiate objects that are inside the luggage. There’s no doubt that artificial intelligence-based automated target recognition algorithms could be capable of differentiating between useful and harmful items.

#4: Digital Entertainment and Deliveries

During travel, the experience is one of the major concerns for all travelers. But as essential shops are closed, and terminals are quiet, there isn’t much entertainment. How will customers enjoy safe digital entertainment and experiences during their travel? Well, technology and personalization will be critical drivers of this change.

Today, travel retailers are even utilizing tech to give their customers enhanced experiences. With AI, travel retailers encourage people to use their service, enabling them to select a product and deliver without physically touching them. Retailers have also enabled a click-and-collect facility that allows people to order items before they arrive at the airport.

Failure to adopt new tech trends will leave companies in the travel industry far behind others regarding customer experience and digital innovation.

Key Takeaways

From reducing physical contact during travel to ensuring digital entertainment, AI’s role in the travel industry is exceptional. The amicable role of technology in making travel safer in COVID-19 is not limited to airlines and airports. Artificial intelligence is used to recommend the best price for a complete trip, enabling travel agents to offer automated recommendations based on a wide range of factors, including affordability. As such, companies in the travel industry must deploy new technologies to make travel seamless and stress-free during these challenging times.

As the crisis is gradually becoming less severe, the travel will resume in a more mainstream way. However, companies in the travel market must keep pace with artificial intelligence technology innovations and adopt them in their operations. It will gradually move the travel industry far ahead of other sectors concerning customer experience and digital innovation.