Introduction
Travel is surging globally and is expected to boom in 2023. According to new data from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), more than 900 million passengers travelled internationally in 2022, doubling the figure recorded for 2021. With this rapid resurgence in international travel, the burden of securing each of those borders has become mission critical.
New developments and ideas continue to shape the future of security technology and how it undermines safety measures. When looking to deploy an effective border management system, what should you focus on?
In this blog post, we delve into the realm of superior border management practices, exploring the vital elements that contribute to its effectiveness. By examining key principles and strategies, we aim to provide invaluable insights for successfully establishing and maintaining an efficient border management system.
(1) Cross-Collaboration
How we manage our borders has become a hot topic in the last few years. Each border crossing counts on several stakeholders coming together to work effectively and strengthen border management in each region. This collaborative effort represents the most intricate aspect of cross-border policy.
By establishing collective agreements among governments, industry players, and international partners, coordinated efforts can be leveraged to deliver a seamless end-to-end border experience, minimizing inconvenience and costs for passengers. Operational best practices, supported by advanced technologies, pave the way for enhanced interoperability and value generation.
(2) An integrated squad
With many moving parts, it is crucial to ensure the coordination and cooperation among all relevant authorities and agencies involved in border management. Without good accurate information, the wrong decisions affect the overall integration of the team and result in a blend of poor decision making. By utilizing a modern approach to industrial communications, along with a cohesive and fully integrated team, border officers and other officials can have access to the right information to make sound decisions.
Through sound policy advice and coordinated efforts on border management, a fully integrated team can serve as a center of excellence, facilitating the sharing of expertise and best practices.
(3) Biometric screening
The adoption of biometric systems is gaining momentum at airports worldwide. According to GlobeNewswire, the global biometrics market is expected to account for US $55.42 billion by 2027.
Electronic travel systems – Travel Authorization (visas and ETA), Advanced Passenger Processing (APA), Passenger Name Record (PNR), and Advanced Passenger Information (API), provide border officials with critical information on who is exactly travelling. Thus, the ability to automate touchpoints and identity verification is key.
A multi-biometric verification system, leveraging information from various biometric sources, reduces verification errors. For instance, advanced kiosks can identify and authenticate passengers using centralized databases or acceptable identity documents. Embedded camera systems enable passenger detection, recognition, and retrieval of their PNR, instilling confidence in each traveler throughout their journey.
(4) Intelligence: Safeguarding Borders
Finding a viable solution in the right places is key to effective border management. With border security playing a pivotal role in national security, countries can better protect their borders and control the movement of people and goods. This is where intelligence analysis plays a significant role to identify any threats or vulnerabilities at a border. By developing effective strategies and working strategically, connecting the dots on travel authorizations (i.e., visas) or information from airlines with API, PNR, and APP, one can better understand the intent of each passenger.
At Embross, our heritage in supporting global custom and border agencies has taught us that governments will need to have access to the data generated, and analytics to turn this data into intelligence. In complex environments where a lot of change is required, strong collaboration is vital for a smooth journey with customers, suppliers, and other third parties. In 2018, Embross deployed automated Primary Inspection Kiosks at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, exemplifying the advancement of Canada’s border clearance through enhanced functionality and security, including comprehensive on-screen traveler declarations.
(5) Automation
Automation holds the key to expediting border management by relieving the burden on officers. Equipping border control teams with the right technology and systems is essential to achieve this objective.
By leveraging appropriate technologies, passengers can enjoy a seamless, touchless end-to-end experience. This is accomplished by enabling travelers to provide their identity before departure, ensuring the readiness of automated border control e-Gates and kiosks upon their arrival.
The ongoing modernization of airports is poised to revolutionize the automated border control market, empowering border control agents to focus their attention where it is most needed [1].
Conclusion: Unlocking Efficiency in Border Management
In today’s dynamic landscape, border officials face the challenge of enhancing efficiency and productivity through innovative processes and tools. By implementing the aforementioned tips, border officials can harness the power of automation, leading to numerous opportunities for optimizing processes, improving operational efficiency, and fostering shared intelligence. This transformative approach not only streamlines border operations but also enables a seamless and secure passenger experience. Embracing these strategies empowers border officials to unlock new levels of productivity and effectiveness, positioning them to meet the evolving demands of border management in an increasingly interconnected world.
References:
[1] https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/automated-border-control-market.aspAuthor:
Omar Abbasi, Marketing Manager
Embross offers border agencies, government authorities and airports a complete portfolio of solutions that help secure, automate, and facilitate border and passenger management. If you would like to learn more, please contact a member of our expert team: info@embross.com