The WorldTracer Lost and Found Property software program helps return most articles lost by flyers within two days of being reported.

SITA, a specialist in air transport communications and IT, has an AI-powered solution that helps resolve that chronic problem for airlines and passengers alike: lost luggage and articles. The manual process for reporting, matching, recording and return of these items to their owners is slow, opaque, expensive and stressful. The WorldTracer Lost and Found Property software program from SITA solves this problem on a global scale. (SITA)

WorldTracer Lost and Found Property

The AI-enabled solution is an ATI-specific, cloud-based application that uses computer vision, machine learning, and natural language processing to match airport reports of found items with passengers’ claims of lost articles.

Passengers can quickly upload details of their lost articles on the airline’s self-service portal through an “Inquire” option. This is a completely contactless way for passengers to report delayed or lost baggage from their mobile device, avoiding long queues at busy baggage service counters or offices.

On the other hand, airport personnel can upload a found article to the system by simply uploading its image and entering details of the date, time and location.

Using image recognition the system identifies (from the picture) additional details such as brand, material, and color of the missing item. It then uploads a report to a single shared database.

Thereafter, the system matches these ‘found’ objects by sorting through the millions of ‘lost’ claims on its global database and notifies the owner.

Using the same self-service portal, the relieved owner can arrange and pay for the delivery or collection of the article.

The system also has a Dashboard for airlines that provides detailed statistics for each step of the process so they can monitor and maximize productivity as well as optimize return rates.

Advantages of WorldTracer

• Ground teams can register, report and validate a lost article “match” in less than two minutes
• Cuts repatriation costs by 90%
• About 60% of lost items are returned within the first 48 hours.
• Passengers can now conduct the reporting and claim process using their mobile device
• Enables airlines to earn a revenue stream form this process
• Frees up staff, allowing them to focus on value-added activities and manage their time more efficiently.

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