AdminSantan, the inflight catering subsidiary of Capital A, in collaboration with fintech leader Soft Space Sdn. Bhd., has unveiled a transformative upgrade to its inflight retail system, Fasspos. This innovative step marks Santan’s continued commitment to enhancing the passenger experience through advanced technology. Since becoming the first to introduce SoftPOS technology for contactless payments in 2020, Santan has aimed to streamline operations and empower AirAsia cabin crew with cutting-edge tools.
The upgraded Fasspos system now features enterprise-grade ET45 tablets from Zebra Technologies, enabling faster and more efficient transactions. The new tablets come equipped with large, user-friendly displays and advanced Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology, cutting transaction times by more than 50%.
“At Santan, we are always striving to enhance the inflight experience, and technology plays a pivotal role in making it truly seamless. By integrating innovative solutions like Fasspos, we elevate the overall guest journey while empowering our cabin crew to work more efficiently,” said Catherine Goh, CEO of Santan.
Empowering Cabin Crew and Passengers Alike
The introduction of the ET45 tablets signifies a leap forward in service quality and efficiency. Designed for durability and high performance, the devices feature Wi-Fi 6 and 5G connectivity, a built-in barcode scanner, and robust NFC capabilities, all while remaining lightweight.
Christanto Suryadarma, Sales Vice President for Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Channel APJeC at Zebra Technologies, expressed his enthusiasm: “Our enterprise-grade tablets are specifically designed for robust performance and durability, fastest Wi-Fi and cellular speeds with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and built-in barcode scanner and NFC, yet lightweight. This makes them ideal for the demanding environment of inflight operations.”
With over 20 million inflight food and beverage units sold annually, Santan’s enhanced capabilities aim to streamline inventory management, reduce service bottlenecks, and ensure a superior passenger experience.
Unlocking New Revenue Streams
Joel Tay, CEO of Soft Space, highlighted the impact of the dual ordering and payment functionalities: “Fasspos’s unique features will streamline AirAsia’s inflight sales operations, shorten transaction times, improve cost efficiencies, and could potentially boost sales transactions across the entire fleet.”
The global inflight retail market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach US$11 billion by 2032. Santan’s strategic investment in advanced retail solutions positions it as a leader in leveraging this trend, providing passengers with seamless access to a diverse range of goods, from Santan’s signature meals to perfumes, apparel, and more.
The Fasspos upgrade aligns with Santan’s ambition to become ASEAN’s premier aviation supply ecosystem. By prioritizing customer satisfaction and operational excellence, the collaboration with Soft Space and Zebra Technologies sets a new standard for inflight retail operations.
“This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing cutting-edge technology that meets the evolving needs of the airline industry,” added Suryadarma. “By integrating our technology with Soft Space’s innovative Fasspos solution, we are empowering AirAsia’s cabin crew to deliver efficient and seamless service, ultimately elevating the overall customer experience.”
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