Wipro partners with JFKIAT to drive digital transformation and sustainability at JFK Terminal 4

Wipro Limited, a global leader in technology services and consulting, has embarked on a strategic partnership with JFK International Air Terminal (JFKIAT), the operator of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This collaboration aims to drive digital transformation and enhance sustainability efforts at one of the busiest airport terminals in the United States. Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure Data Platform, Wipro is helping JFKIAT develop a cloud data strategy that integrates advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to create a unified view of terminal operations. This initiative will enable JFKIAT’s management to make data-driven decisions, optimizing terminal operations and achieving long-term goals for efficiency and sustainability.

The three-year project, which started in 2023, focuses on centralizing data across various functions within the terminal to streamline operations, enhance passenger experience, and improve safety and security measures. The AI-enabled data analytics solution will allow JFKIAT to consolidate and manage terminal data more effectively, breaking down information silos and providing a comprehensive overview of operations. The centralized approach will enable JFKIAT to optimize passenger queuing times and implement intelligent rostering for operational functions. It will also consolidate safety and security data to ensure a more coordinated response to incidents and integrate sustainability metrics to track environmental performance.

In the first phase of the project, Wipro successfully established a centralized data foundation that transformed business intelligence capabilities across key departments, including operations, finance, and safety and security. This foundational work has set the stage for the next phase, which will focus on implementing use cases related to non-aviation revenue generation, enhancing customer experience, and connected planning. Deepak Parameswaran, Vice President and Sector Head for Energy, Manufacturing, and Resources at Wipro Limited, highlighted Wipro’s deep domain expertise in airport data operations and digital transformation. He stated that the company is committed to helping JFKIAT become a data-driven organization by implementing solutions that optimize operational efficiencies and generate new revenue streams.

Steve Tukavkin, Vice President of IT and Digital at JFKIAT, expressed his enthusiasm for the new data strategy, noting that it will allow the terminal to centralize critical data sets into a new data lake, breaking down information silos and improving insights to enhance decision-making. He emphasized JFKIAT’s commitment to embracing innovative technologies that strengthen day-to-day operations and create a seamless customer experience. Tukavkin described the partnership with Wipro as a significant step toward transforming Terminal 4 into a world-class facility that sets new standards in operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction.

Microsoft also plays a crucial role in this collaboration through its Azure Data Platform. Eve Machol, Microsoft’s Americas Director for the Airport and Transportation Industry, expressed pride in the partnership with Wipro, stating that Microsoft looks forward to seeing JFKIAT lead the industry by leveraging data-driven insights to deliver operational excellence. The collaboration between Wipro, JFKIAT, and Microsoft is expected to create a transformative capability that sets a new benchmark for data-driven airport management.

In addition to its efforts to improve operational efficiency, Wipro has also been enlisted by JFKIAT to help meet its ambitious sustainability targets. The company’s sustainability practice, known as Wipro Impact, has been selected to assess Terminal 4’s greenhouse gas emissions, develop a comprehensive carbon reduction roadmap, and create JFKIAT’s 2023 sustainability report. These efforts align with JFKIAT’s targets of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving a 100% reduction by 2050. Wipro’s work focuses on three main pillars: measurement, reduction, and reporting.

Wipro’s sustainability team measured JFKIAT’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions through a detailed greenhouse gas inventory that aligns with industry standards, including the Airport Carbon Accreditation standard. The team also identified additional emission sources from previous inventories, such as stationary combustion, fugitive emissions, and mobile combustion, to provide a more accurate view of JFKIAT’s carbon footprint and identify opportunities for reduction. Based on this assessment, Wipro developed a carbon reduction roadmap that includes investment priorities in energy efficiency measures and a renewable energy sourcing strategy. The roadmap outlines the steps JFKIAT needs to take to meet its 2030 reduction target and set the path toward achieving a 100% reduction by 2050. In late 2023, JFKIAT implemented the renewable energy sourcing strategy recommended by Wipro, which resulted in a 16% reduction in baseline emissions.

Wipro also played a key role in reporting JFKIAT’s sustainability progress by developing the terminal’s 2023 sustainability report. This report, designed in collaboration with Designit, Wipro’s experience innovation company, showcases JFKIAT’s sustainability achievements for the year and outlines its priorities for the future. Susan Kenniston, Vice President and Global Head of Sustainability Domain and Consulting at Wipro, emphasized the importance of this partnership in shaping Wipro’s airport decarbonization strategies. She noted that as airports worldwide focus more on sustainability, Wipro’s experience and digital solutions will be instrumental in helping clients build hyper-connected, intelligent airports that better manage their environmental impact as passenger volumes continue to rise.

JFKIAT’s commitment to sustainability is echoed by its CEO, Roel Huinink, who stated that the partnership with Wipro has enabled the terminal to lead the way in sustainable aviation. He emphasized that sustainability is at the heart of JFKIAT’s mission and that the strategic measures implemented with Wipro’s support will help the terminal continue to reduce overall emissions and advance efforts to combat climate change. Huinink expressed confidence in the partnership’s potential to cultivate a greener, more environmentally friendly terminal, positioning JFKIAT as a leader in sustainable airport operations.

The collaboration between Wipro Limited, JFKIAT, and Microsoft marks a significant milestone in the aviation industry’s journey towards digital transformation and sustainability. By leveraging advanced data analytics, AI, and a robust commitment to sustainability, this partnership aims to create a smarter, more efficient, and greener Terminal 4 at JFK, setting new standards for airport management worldwide.