Information Builders Case Studies Air Canada Soars With Web-Based FlightTracking Application

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	Air Canada Soars With Web-Based FlightTracking Application Information Builders

Air Canada Soars With Web-Based FlightTracking Application

Information Builders

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries	Aerospace Telecommunications
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Sales & Marketing
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Supply Chain Visibility
Services	Data Science Services Software Design & Engineering Services
Challenge	Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, was seeking to improve its services by making it easier for consumers and corporate customers to purchase, book, and manage travel, as well as track all associated expenses through a self-service reporting portal. The challenge was to build an online reporting environment that was simple enough for customers to use, yet sophisticated enough to handle sensitive corporate data in a secure, reliable way. The company also wanted to extend powerful BI capabilities to its premier customers. The IT department was tasked with this project, which had to be completed outside of the usual IT channels. Read More
About Customer	Air Canada is the world’s 14th largest commercial airline and the largest airline in Canada. It provides the greatest number of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, in the U.S.-Canada exchange market, and for international flights to and from Canada. The airline constantly seeks to improve corporate efficiency and employee morale by supplying unique services to its customers. To maintain the company’s high standards throughout its worldwide enterprise, the airline purchased Information Builders’ WebFOCUS business intelligence (BI) software. Since then, the company has used the software to enhance both internal and external reporting activities. Read More
Solution	Air Canada used Information Builders' WebFOCUS business intelligence software to create an online reporting environment that provided up-to-date, 24/7 access to flight bookings and Corporate Pass usage history. The software was used to replace a legacy revenue management reporting system that ran on the mainframe. The new system has been key to managing the business, especially since the airline industry went into a tailspin after September 11, 2001. WebFOCUS helped Air Canada understand which areas to focus on and it played a key role in devising a more resilient business model going forward. The airline also used WebFOCUS to create a BI application that helps the maintenance staff identify deviations. In airline parlance, deviations refer to aircraft maintenance issues, including tracking parts for repairs. Maintenance personnel use WebFOCUS to list all the deviations requiring attention. They can generate standard or parameterized reports that list the type, location, and destination of each affected airplane, along with a catalog of available parts. WebFOCUS makes it easy to identify the required parts and track the performance of each maintenance crew, such as their success identifying, classifying, and closing deviations. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Applicable Industries

Aerospace

Telecommunications

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Data Science Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

Challenge

Air Canada, the largest airline in Canada, was seeking to improve its services by making it easier for consumers and corporate customers to purchase, book, and manage travel, as well as track all associated expenses through a self-service reporting portal. The challenge was to build an online reporting environment that was simple enough for customers to use, yet sophisticated enough to handle sensitive corporate data in a secure, reliable way. The company also wanted to extend powerful BI capabilities to its premier customers. The IT department was tasked with this project, which had to be completed outside of the usual IT channels.

About Customer

Air Canada is the world’s 14th largest commercial airline and the largest airline in Canada. It provides the greatest number of scheduled passenger services in the Canadian market, in the U.S.-Canada exchange market, and for international flights to and from Canada. The airline constantly seeks to improve corporate efficiency and employee morale by supplying unique services to its customers. To maintain the company’s high standards throughout its worldwide enterprise, the airline purchased Information Builders’ WebFOCUS business intelligence (BI) software. Since then, the company has used the software to enhance both internal and external reporting activities.

Solution

Air Canada used Information Builders' WebFOCUS business intelligence software to create an online reporting environment that provided up-to-date, 24/7 access to flight bookings and Corporate Pass usage history. The software was used to replace a legacy revenue management reporting system that ran on the mainframe. The new system has been key to managing the business, especially since the airline industry went into a tailspin after September 11, 2001. WebFOCUS helped Air Canada understand which areas to focus on and it played a key role in devising a more resilient business model going forward. The airline also used WebFOCUS to create a BI application that helps the maintenance staff identify deviations. In airline parlance, deviations refer to aircraft maintenance issues, including tracking parts for repairs. Maintenance personnel use WebFOCUS to list all the deviations requiring attention. They can generate standard or parameterized reports that list the type, location, and destination of each affected airplane, along with a catalog of available parts. WebFOCUS makes it easy to identify the required parts and track the performance of each maintenance crew, such as their success identifying, classifying, and closing deviations.

Impact #1	The system has helped generate sales, improve customer satisfaction, and solidify relationships with some of Air Canada's key corporate customers.
Impact #2	The application is now available to all Corporate Pass customers. Many of them use the embedded BI tools to manage their travel information, which makes the service more useful and compelling.
Impact #3	The active reporting technology also lets them manipulate reports in various sort orders, filter data by their chosen criteria, and chart information for visual impact.

Impact #1

The system has helped generate sales, improve customer satisfaction, and solidify relationships with some of Air Canada's key corporate customers.

Impact #2

The application is now available to all Corporate Pass customers. Many of them use the embedded BI tools to manage their travel information, which makes the service more useful and compelling.

Impact #3

The active reporting technology also lets them manipulate reports in various sort orders, filter data by their chosen criteria, and chart information for visual impact.

Benefit #1	Two developers in the commercial BI group developed the entire application in one month.
Benefit #2	The total cost was $25,000.

Benefit #1

Two developers in the commercial BI group developed the entire application in one month.

Benefit #2

The total cost was $25,000.

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Overview

Air Canada Soars With Web-Based FlightTracking Application

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit