SIA to fuel in-house innovations with launch of KrisLab

Singapore

IMMERSIVE in-flight entertainment headsets, an augmented reality colouring mobile application and a mobile service that notifies travellers abroad about nearby events and deals - these are some of the innovations brewing over at Singapore Airlines' (SIA) newly-launched innovation lab, KrisLab.

On Tuesday, SIA unveiled KrisLab as a "collaborative workspace" for its staff to innovate with startups, accelerators and other external partners. The opening was officiated by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.

While many major airlines already have innovation labs, SIA hopes to differentiate KrisLab with its emphasis on internal talent, CEO Goh Choon Phong told The Business Times at the launch.

"As far as innovation labs are concerned, I would say that ours has a lot of involvement from staff, right from the beginning. The whole concept is that the ideas were not created in a vacuum. It really starts with a business challenge and they really want to do something about it.

"We now have a facility for them to work with people who are in touch with technologies and the methodologies, and the equipment to help them with a project that could address their pain points," he said.

Last January, the carrier started to support staff in developing ideas for innovative new products or services. SIA committed to provide S$5,000 in seed funding for staff with approved ideas to prototype their solution.

Thus far, the airline has received some 180 ideas from staff, out of which 50 are at prototype stage and 11 are at proof-of-concept or production stage.

Some of these innovations have already been rolled out. One example is KrisPay, a blockchain-based digital wallet launched in July 2018, that allows KrisFlyer members to use miles to purchase everyday items from partner merchants, such as bubble tea retailer Gong Cha.

The opening of KrisLab is in line with SIA's ambition to become a leading digital airline globally, Mr Goh said.

Separately, the airline will launch the SIA Accelerator Programme this quarter in conjunction with NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, Mr Goh said. More details will be announced in due course, he added.

One startup that will be participating in the accelerator is AirFree. The France-based startup will work on a proof-of-concept solution that can be implemented on KrisWorld, SIA's in-flight entertainment system, to enhance the in-flight retail experience.

SIA's innovation efforts are part of its broader Digital Innovation Blueprint, launched last year, to nurture the digital aviation and travel technology community in Singapore.

The carrier is not the only one to double down on such efforts.

On Monday, German airline Lufthansa launched an innovation lab in Singapore, the first outside of its home country.