Are you weary of the perpetual issue of losing important items during your travels? The Unclaimed Baggage Found Report reveals that an astounding 2 million items were deserted at airports in 2023, with only 10% of lost item requests successfully retrieved. However, there is hope on the horizon as modern technological advancements are stepping up to alleviate this issue.
A pivotal force in this arena is Tile, a company specializing in Bluetooth trackers. Their exhaustive analysis of data from the travel industry, news reports, and product information underscores the transformative influence of technology on the matter of lost items.
The transformative impact of technology can be witnessed through a variety of channels. For instance, Andrew Jensen and Meredith VanAcker employed an e-tag to monitor their impounded vehicle in real time, exemplifying the pledge of tech-savvy individuals against lost items.
Furthermore, hotels are embracing digital lost-and-found technology, integrating new applications that simplify the laborious process of cataloguing lost items. Staff members can effortlessly capture an image of the lost item via the application, which then identifies the item and links it to a GPS location stored in the app’s database.
In the realm of individual travellers, Bluetooth trackers have gained popularity. Valerie Szybala, for example, equipped her suitcase with a tracking device that revealed the meandering journey of her misplaced baggage. These tracking devices utilize Bluetooth technology to transmit a signal between nearby mobile devices, aiding in the precise determination of the tagged item’s location.
Alternatively, Bluetooth or QR code labels offer a straightforward solution and are compatible with a diverse range of items, from bike helmets to hard-shell luggage. They provide a swift and cost-effective means to expedite the recovery of lost items.
For frequent flyers, it is advisable to opt for airlines that employ RFID tag tracking. Delta Airlines, for instance, was the inaugural major airline to adopt radio frequency identification tags, which surpass barcode trackers in efficiency. It is anticipated that this technology will become more prevalent, with 67% of airlines intending to furnish real-time information on passengers’ luggage by 2025.
Lastly, it is essential to utilize the features on your phone to manage your belongings. For instance, Google Maps and Apple Maps enable users to save their parking location within the app, while the phone’s reminder app can alert you about essential items when departing from a designated location.
In conclusion, technology has made remarkable advancements in aiding us to safeguard our possessions during travel. From Bluetooth trackers to RFID tag tracking, a multitude of options are available to ensure that the loss of our essential items becomes a thing of the past.
This blog post has been revised by Nicole Caldwell and Kristen Wegrzyn, and was initially produced and disseminated in collaboration with Stacker Studio.