Delayed, damaged or lost baggage reduces customer satisfaction and generates additional costs. IATA (International Air Transport Association) Resolution 753 on baggage tracking is intended to encourage airlines to reduce mishandling by implementing cross-industry tracking for every baggage journey. The resolution states that IATA members shall maintain an accurate inventory of baggage by monitoring the acquisition and delivery of baggage. For this to be successfully done, IATA needs to be able to rely on experienced partners.

SICK Automation offers reliable technologies for baggage tracking through its laser, camera, and RFID technology, along with single source support. The company supports the process with its extensive baggage-tracking expertise. The leading manufacturer of intelligent sensor solutions for reading bag tags enables the continuous tracking of a bag from the beginning of a journey to the final destination. From receipt of the bag by the airline up to the point at which it is claimed by the passenger, SICK offers a perfect baggage relay system that is transparent, efficient, and fast. The benefit is obvious: performance enhancement for end-to-end baggage transportation.

SICK is helping airlines and airport operators close the gaps of baggage mishandling. This cuts costs and increases customer satisfaction – the ultimate intention of IATA's Resolution 753. The guidelines for the continuous tracking of bags from bag drop to reclamation came into effect on 1 June 2018. 

This can be achieved with the help of expert advice and intelligent sensors. To do this, SICK pays particular attention to forward-thinking baggage identification concepts in order to offer the right answers and solutions. The different requirements presented by airports and airlines in terms of the use of different technologies also means that solutions need to be adapted to local airlines. This means taking what is best for the respective customer into consideration to achieve a tailored, sustainable, long-term solution. At SICK, long-term thinking also means that existing systems are retrofitted and upgraded when necessary. This enables its systems to run smoothly for a longer period.

SICK's range of products for track and trace is highly developed and can be integrated into existing systems. RFID, laser, and camera technology all correspond to state-of-the-art systems and are used individually or combined in hybrid solutions on the baggage journey. This begins with the simple hand-held scanners at the bag drop and extends to complex reading stations in the sorting process which ensure a high throughput and accurate sorting, right up to the reading gate at arrivals – and ultimately the final destination.