1. Future of Purchasing

Challenge Description: Create an online e-sourcing or auctioning platform for airline procurement. Using the latest blockchain, artificial intelligence, payment and machine learning technologies we want to create a platform that will transform the way airlines conduct purchasing. The platform will deliver an end to end B2B experience, from warehouse to warehouse. The platform will facilitate & orchestrate the end to end procurement chain from ordering to fulfilment while delivering cost savings and value to the organization. The platform will also enlist, review and delist partners and complete different types of financial transactions with all parties. It will be a virtual ecosystem of partners working to create and deliver value products and services at the best “total” price points.

Technology focus areas (not limited to):

• Blockchain platforms: A natively built platform using blockchain to transact and track.
• AI: The platform needs to have AI capabilities to interface, filter, orchestrate and facilitate.
• FinTech: Payments end to end, including perhaps finance options.

2. Customer Journey – Home to Airport Curb

Challenge Description: Create a seamless customer journey through-out the passenger experience prior to arriving to the airport. We want to integrate all services into a single platform that will interact with our customers in their own language or digital interface. We want to deliver into a single channel all Emirates services such as bag collection, home check-in, chauffer drive, meal selection, lounge access and even shopping!

Technology focus areas (not limited to):

• Natural Language processing: Virtual guides or assistants
• AI: Through the virtual assistants or guides, through analysing the different & combined data
• Blockchain platforms: A natively built platform using blockchain to transact and track.
• FinTech: Payments end to end, including perhaps finance options.

3. Customer Journey – Airport Curb to Plane

Challenge Description: Create a customer journey through the airport that will introduce a seamless passage through all touch-points including check in counters and baggage drop. This should be achieved through the use of robotic process automation, artificial intelligence, biometrics, big data analytics, natural language processing, sentiment analysis etc and by connecting systems and data across various aspects of airline operations in order to generate the optimization insights needed to improve service delivery. This will be the first step in creating the airport of the future.

Technology focus areas (not limited to):

• AI & Natural Language processing: Virtual guides and assistants, through analysing the different & combined data
• Advanced biometrics: As a means to seamlessly pass through different touch points at the airport
• Sentiment analysis: To collect data on facial response of passengers through the airport journey
• Future design thinkers: To validate and string together the processes/ technologies required to innovate at the airport.

4. Crew Duty Travel

Challenge Description:

Create a platform that will transform Emirates crew travel into seamless efficient process. We are looking to integrate all aspects of crew travel into a single smart platform that interfaces with our crew to help them with their travel plans and guide them through the entire process. The platform will need to integrate all backend processes such as automating and validating rostering, destination details, allowance and accommodation. The platform will minimize our staff time on manual processes and also eliminate any use of paper and waste.

Technology focus areas (not limited to):

• Artificially intelligent platforms that communicate using virtual agents or natural language through any digital interface
• Block chain for partner integration onto the platform
• Payment & settlement using advanced payment solutions