INFORM GmbH

INFORM´s GroundStar is a comprehensive software solution for optimizing airport, ground handler and airline ground operations. Smart algorithms support critical processes such as planning airline resources, staff rostering, and data analysis. GroundStar also enables management by exception through real-time operational transparency, monitoring, alerts and optimized airline resource allocation.

Company Profile

• Hub & Turnaround Management

  Every year, flight delays result in millions of dollars in costs. For more efficient hub & turnaround management, all related departments, tasks, and events have to be efficiently controlled.

  Serving as a sophisticated process-monitoring and steering tool, INFORM´s Hub & Turnaround Management solution ensures that factors that may negatively affect a seamless turnaround are easily and promptly identified. This way, their impact on the operation can be evaluated and corrected.

  

• Aircraft Maintenance

  Planning aircraft maintenance staff is a complex task. A considerable part of the workload cannot be estimated in advance and the operational situation almost always differs from previously created plans. The profitability depends on a well-balanced staff availability with the actual amount of work they perform.

  INFORM´s Aircraft Maintenance Solution supports all critical tasks from the planning stage to the dispatcher’s assignment of all operations. The real-time scheduling system provided by INFORM delivers a complete overview of all planned tasks for the day of operations, as well as available employees and the corresponding allocation of aircraft. Through the use of INFORM´s first-class optimizer, which responds to any changes in the plan, the dispatcher can easily focus on situations that require special attention.

  

• GSE Management

  Aviation-related fleet operations are under significant cost pressures. It is essential that they are made more efficient by optimizing resource allocation and reducing fleet sizes. It is equally important that service levels are improved, a safe working environment for staff is achieved, and valuable assets are protected.

  INFORM´s GSE Management Solution tracks and monitors Ground Service Equipment (GSE) during its operation on the ramp and offers online information about location, operational status and further telematics input. INFORM´s solution offers a wide spectrum of reports to support optimum management of the equipment (e.g., efficiency and incident reports). Furthermore, INFORM’s GSE Management Solution can be applied for autonomous vehicles, supporting

  

• Air Cargo

  INFORM´s Air Cargo Solution has proven its success for the optimization of airfreight logistics which applies to both global cargo hubs and smaller operations. With interfaces to Fairway Information Services (FIS) and cargo information systems, the solution addresses warehouse and warehouse-to-aircraft transportation processes proactively and under optimization criteria.

  INFORM´s solution supports the strategic and tactical planning of transport processes and the operational deployment of resources by determining the need for personnel, equipment, and unit load devices (ULDs) based on flight information and statistical data.

  

• Gates and Stands Management

  Another big challenge for many airports is to adjust their infrastructure to address the ever-increasing volume of traffic.

  INFORM´s Gates and Stands Management Solution offers the entire range of strategic, seasonal, and tactical planning for the control of gates, apron positions, and terminal resources. To this end, the solution automatically provides all relevant data and makes them available to users and third-party systems. Equally important is the customer satisfaction of both airlines and passengers. In this case, punctuality and preferences in the allocation of gates and service counters are crucial factors.

   

  

• Ramp Services

  INFORM´s Ramp Services Solution covers all services implemented during an aircraft’s ground time and which are required for successful aircraft handling. Besides the monitoring of ramp handling, aircraft loading, baggage handling, and baggage transport, INFORM´s solution supports aircraft movements, aircraft services and ground transportation. Leveraging the solution’s excellent optimization methods, both cost-effective processes and high customer satisfaction are achieved.

  

• Passenger Services

  Successful passenger services often require a significant number of employees with different skills and skill profiles. Constant changes in the flight schedule and passenger booking figures lead to continuous rescheduling of the handling activities.

  INFORM´s Passenger Services Solution provides a real-time scheduling system for employees based on specific passenger handling needs. The dispatchers are optimally supported by advanced optimization processes considering factors such as travel time, required skills and cross utilization between different staff pools.

   

  

• Special Services

  The need to assist passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) or special requirements (SSR) poses several challenges. Such assistance is time-consuming and also demands consideration to individual needs in a very dynamic environment. Therefore, Special Services providers require more staff in order to offer their contract customers (airlines and airports) a high-quality service.

  With INFORM´s Special Services Solution, the management of all staff, assistance requests, and equipment can be efficiently planned and coordinated including origin and destination information in real-time. INFORM´s solution provides efficient support in the planning and allocation of resources and the ability to use mobile devices to achieve full control over how services are executed.

  

• Workforce Management

  Flexible shift and working time models are hot topics among airline and ground handling management. The general workload demand is high due to a staff shortage. Furthermore, besides staff member absences, workforce scheduling must accommodate unpredictable flight changes. A high-quality, cost-effective service can only be realized when the complexity of workforce management is mastered.

  INFORM´s Workforce Management Solution, GS WorkforcePlus, is a fully-integrated rostering solution containing an optimizer, which takes addresses complex and dynamic requirements. Companies find the perfect balance between employee needs and flexible time management.

  

• Transfer Management

  Due to increased passenger transfer operations and shorter ground times, monitoring passenger and baggage connections becomes increasingly important.

  INFORM´s Transfer Management Solution supports the entire transfer operation: from dispatching of terminal staff for short and missed transfer connections, to performing changes in the reservation system, to evaluating operational efficiency (KPI) through dashboards and reporting.

  

• De-icing

  The control of aircraft de-icing is often reactive and on very short notice. Lack of communication and cooperation between stakeholders often leads to avoidable delays and inefficiencies. In addition, some of the employees are less experienced than employees in other sectors due to seasonal business demand.

  INFORM´s De-icing Solution addresses all challenges and offers the best support for optimized de-icing processes. Requests can be carried out automatically via a connected interface, or conveniently registered by verbal requests. Besides the scheduling of staff, de-icing vehicles and de-icing areas are considered in the planning.