BARIG Announces IT Service Provider SMF as Newest Business Partner

With digitalization central to the optimization of process chains in the airline industry, the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany has added IT service provider SMF as the newest BARIG Business Partner.

Left to Right: Wieland Feuerstein, Managing Director SMF, and Michael Hoppe, BARIG Chairman and Executive Director – Courtesy BARIG/Classen Communication

On Wednesday (July 19, 2023), the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG) announced the addition of IT service provider SMF as the newest BARIG Business Partner. Headquartered in Dortmund, Germany, SMF also maintains several locations in other European countries. The company’s international customers include businesses in a range of sectors, including finance, industry and retail. SMF recently successfully completed a comprehensive project for an airline in Germany, deploying digital processes to make ground handling more efficient, from passenger boarding and disembarking, to baggage handling, refueling and aircraft cleaning, resulting in reduced waiting times and cost savings.

In Wednesday’s announcement, BARIG’s Chairman and Executive Director, Michael Hoppe, said,

“Airlines already manage their highly specialized processes, yet they continue to work on improving and accelerating existing workflows with the help of new technologies and digitalization. By transmitting important information, digital solutions can support in making the right decisions quickly. As new business partner, SMF assists our BARIG community in this field with experience, profound expertise as well as great creativity.”

Also commenting on the new business partnership, SMF’s Managing Director, Wieland Feuerstein, added,

“Digitization is one of the big buzzwords of our time, but it encompasses many different facets, and the resulting chances and challenges are completely customized for each individual company. As BARIG business partner, we would like to extend our know-how in the aviation industry and exchange ideas on digitalization topics. From internal processes to customer services and loyalty management, we would be delighted to demonstrate the numerous opportunities that digital transformation offers.”

Founded in 1951, Frankfurt am Main-based BARIG (Board of Airline Representatives in Germany e.V.) represents over 100 national and international airlines in the scheduled, charter, low cost and air cargo sectors. The association works to improve conditions in the aviation industry in Germany and is the key industry contact for politics, authorities, industry and media.

Source: BARIG/Classen Communication