Cover Interview

In an exclusive interview with Aviation World, Bjorn Pieper, Chief Commercial Officer, PADS4 talks about the smart airport platform that help airports to digitize and open possibilities for new revenue streams. Excerpts…

What is the PADS4 platform? Who are your potential customers?

PADS4 started 28 years ago as software to put existing data onto a screen. One of the first customers interested in this technology was the Airport of Eindhoven, our hometown. They wanted to replace the flight information split-flap board with something more modern. With our solution, we were able to link the data from the AODB with screens in the terminal. It became one of the first digital FIDS (Flight Information Display Systems) solutions in the world.

In the years that followed, PADS4 was further developed as a versatile Digital Signage platform. With this also the potential customers for the PADS4 platform increased. It was not only limited to the airport. Also, customers in corporate, logistics, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing saw the benefit of a data-driven Digital Signage platform, seamlessly integrated with their day-to-day process.

What are the various modules of PADS4 and how user efficient this technology is?

With the growth, we recognised the need for specific functionality for certain verticals. To support this,PADS4 transformed into a modular platform. Currently, the platform has five modules.
PADS4 Workspace serves as an application the manage workspaces in corporate environments.All related to Display communication is in the module PADS4 Digital Signage.
The PADS4 FIDS targets the airport market. At small airports, it works as aneasy to operate flight information management system, while ata larger airport it acts as middle ware between the AODB (Airport Operational Database) and the displays at the airport. PADS4 Wayfinding focuses on dynamic guidance and map-based wayfinding.
All modules are supported by PADS4 IoT (Internet of Things) to bring in data from sensors and cameras to enhance the platform. For example, use existing cameras not only for surveillance, but also to detect the shortest security line and guide passengers there.

Our goal is to develop the technology to utilise the assets and data you already have more smartly across the whole platform.

As we know, for airports you have PADS4 FIDS technology. What is the USP of this platform?

I think the USP of the platform is its versatility. With this PADS4 can supply a full curb to gate experience to the passengers. PADS4 is one of the few platforms that are globally certified by the major display manufacturers to run on their SoC (System on Chip)screens. This will eliminate the use of external hardware. Finally, PADS4 can work in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid set-up.

Brief us about NDS and its global presence.

With installations on every continent, PADS4 is a global solution.This is not only true for our PADS4 platform in general but also when we look at our FIDS solution. PADS4 is being used for displaying flight information on every continent. Even in Antarctica, passengers rely on PADS4 to see which flight they are on.

PADS4 is being marketed globally by our great partner network in over 75 counties. Our teams in the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates and India support our resellers. Both technically and commercially.

How do you see the future?

We see a change in the way airports are looking at their revenue streams.In the past, the airport made money by servicing airlines. Later revenue was also generated on services towards the passengers.For a long time, the motto was “A happy passenger is a spending passenger.”

Now it is time to look outside the terminal. Many airports look at the concept of airport cities. With reference to all businesses that make up an airport city, we believe PADS4 is ready for this next step.

(Interview is Published in Aviation World Nov-Dec 2021 Print Edition)