Samsung SDS EMM for Wearables and Total Communicator Solutions's Spark Compass take airport IT responsiveness to new levels

Samsung SDS America (SDSA) and Total Communicator Solutions, Inc. (TCS), a leader in contextually intelligent communication platforms, IoT communications, and application development, announced today that they’ve advanced their partnership with San Diego International Airport (SAN) to help airport IT operations become more responsive, thanks to a first-of-its kind enterprise-wide wearable solution that integrates Samsung Gear S3 and S2 smartwatches. TCS’s Spark Compass™ intelligent communications platform is the brain powering the solution, which harnesses beacon technology to provide location tracking and bidirectional communication with watches worn by airport staff, integrated within SAN’s existing operational infrastructure and data solutions.

With the wearable EMM, when an IT issue, such as a frozen flight information display board, is reported, TCS’s Spark Compass technology alerts—via a Samsung smartwatch on their wrist—the nearest IT staff member who can most quickly respond. This is made possible through indoor location tracking and the Spark Compass beacon network. When an IT member receives the alert, they accept it as a task. Once the incident is completed, it’s reported to a central database through the IT member’s watch using voice commands or text input. Incident reports and records are then generated by Spark Compass and automatically entered into the existing workflow tracking system.

“We’ll be able to communicate through the user-friendliness of the smartwatch to deliver pinpoint responsiveness to IT issues,” said Rick Belliotti, director, information and small business development at San Diego International Airport. “We’re excited to be the first international airport in the world to use Samsung smartwatches, integrated with our existing Spark Compass implementation into our enterprise operation. The solution represents a foundation for workflow management that can hopefully be carried over into other areas of the airport.”

“Our industry-leading mobile devices and enterprise mobility management solutions for wearables are designed to enable highly customized enterprise solutions that solve business challenges while simultaneously being easy to use,” said Dr. Mingu Lee, VP of Enterprise Solutions at Samsung SDS America. “With a simple glance to the wrist, on-the-go personnel at San Diego International Airport can now more swiftly report and respond to IT incidents. With features like the Gear S3’s ability to meet IP68 standards for water resistance, and Corning® Gorilla® Glass SR+, which provides a more scratch-resistant and crisp display, airport personnel can rely on their watch as a tough, hardworking, and loyal tool. The overall integration at the airport enables wearable devices to communicate specific tasks with unprecedented ease and traceability, without compromising security. Safety features, like remote screen lock and factory reset, in the event of loss, protect corporate information without compromising usability. Unlike existing device management solutions which only work on smartphones, our new Wearable EMM solution combined with the Spark Compass intelligent communications platform, enables the authority to remotely and simply monitor and update each watch.”

The wearable solution also integrates the award-winning, defense-grade Samsung Knox security platform and mobile management solution, which works on Samsung AndroidTM and TizenTM-based platform devices to improve security, management, and productivity.

Erik Bjontegard, president and founder of Total Communicator Solutions, said, “We’re now seeing how wearables can go way beyond their strengths as personal assistants in the consumer world, and marketing assistants in the business world. Combined with Spark Compass, which provides for contextual, bidirectional intelligence in devices like smartphones and smartwatches, wearables are becoming powerful tools in the enterprise world. San Diego International Airport is an excellent example of leveraging wearables in multiple ways. We look forward to our continued work with both Samsung and San Diego International Airport to make interactions with people, businesses, and enterprises even better in the future.”

Samsung’s Gear S3 and S2 smartwatches are currently being supported by the airport’s consumer-facing, Spark Compass–powered AwayYouGo™ mobile app, which enhances the traveler’s journey with everything from receiving directions en route to the airport to real-time gate information and changes. AwayYouGo also sends alerts when bags are on the carousel at the destination airport, made possible through GoTag™ secure Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) beacons that travelers attach to their luggage before setting out on their trip.