Suresh Khadakbhavi's professional evolution from a telecom engineer to the CEO of Digi Yatra underscores his pivotal role in shaping the aviation industry through innovative biometric technology and a commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.
Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, stands as the visionary behind Digi Yatra, a groundbreaking biometric passenger processing system. In an exclusive conversation with ET Edge Insights, he explains how this innovative technology streamlines the airport experience, allowing passengers to navigate multiple checkpoints seamlessly using a single facial biometric token. Digi Yatra harnesses the power of facial recognition to authenticate passengers, transforming the landscape of air travel.
Professional evolution: From telecom engineer to aviation innovator
Suresh Khadakbhavi’s journey began as a fax service engineer in Mumbai, immersing himself in the telecom domain. His career trajectory saw him transition through various roles within telecom, including an international stint with Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Returning to India, Khadakbhavi seamlessly integrated into the professional landscape, marking the beginning of his transformative journey into the aviation industry.
Pioneering the public-private partnership model at Bangalore airport
The pivotal moment came when Bangalore International Airport sought a telecom manager, presenting Khadakbhavi with a unique opportunity. Intrigued by the prospect and the innovative public-private partnership model at Bangalore International Airport, he embarked on a transformative period in his career.
“One fine day, I received a call from Bangalore International Airport, and they inquired about their need for a telecom manager. I decided to give it a shot, marking the beginning of my journey into the aviation industry,” he says, while conversing with ET Edge Insights. “This job opportunity was particularly interesting because I felt it was something different that India was trying to do,” he adds.
Within the dynamic environment of Bangalore International Airport, Suresh assumed diverse responsibilities, managing IT infrastructure, IT security, and airport applications. His instrumental role in shaping passenger processes in Terminal 2 showcased a dedication to enhancing the passenger experience. Spearheading a project to address escalating air traffic, he navigated through significant infrastructure changes, earning acclaim for his contributions.
Initiating Digi Yatra: A vision for a seamless airport journey
Suresh recounts the journey of developing Digi Yatra, a revolutionary travel platform, from its inception as a minimum viable product to its successful launch. An impactful moment emerged during a brainstorming session for Terminal 2’s passenger experience improvement, he shared a compelling narrative of a passenger seamlessly progressing through airport checkpoints, earning unanimous approval. This success spurred him to lead a pilot project with Jet Airways in 2017, yielding overwhelmingly positive feedback and setting the stage for a broader initiative.
Collaborating with regulatory agencies, the team proposed the Digi Yatra policy, a groundbreaking approach to streamline passenger processes through digital means. In 2018, the Ministry of Civil Aviation officially endorsed this policy as the new standard operating procedure for airports across India.
COVID strikes
The implementation of Digi Yatra faced an unexpected hurdle with the onset of the pandemic, necessitating a strategic reassessment. Undeterred, Suresh and his team strategically embraced the concept of self-sovereign identity to oversee digital identities, ensuring individuals’ complete ownership and control over their data. Overcoming challenges, they sought cost-effective solutions, partnering with Niti Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission to organise a national startup challenge. This initiative led to the selection of two startups, one of whom was, entrusted with building a minimum viable product, showcasing Suresh’s commitment to innovation and resilience in the face of obstacles. Digi Yatra was launched in December 2022 in Bangalore, Delhi, and Varanasi airports. Expressing excitement about the global impact of the platform, Suresh describes the seamless experience it offers to passengers, reducing boarding time to less than five minutes.
Looking ahead: Future of Digi Yatra
The conversation shifts to Digi Yatra’s future, with Suresh envisioning its expansion across airports in India. Plans include integrating the platform into the entire travel stack and offering seamless identity validation at various touchpoints. The roadmap includes meaningful interventions in the travel journey like in-app purchases and delivery services to enhance passenger experience, with ambitious targets set by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He emphasizes the platform’s privacy-centric design, prioritising self-sovereign identity. This approach ensures passengers have complete control over their data, addressing concerns about data security and privacy laws.
Metaverse considerations: Adapting to technological trends
While Metaverse technology is not currently part of Digi Yatra, Suresh acknowledges its potential in immersive experiences for education and training. He leaves room for future considerations in this evolving technological landscape.
Digi Yatra’s value proposition
Suresh invites passengers to experience Digi Yatra’s value proposition—an efficient, hassle-free, and altruistic business class travel experience for the common man. The adoption is framed as a choice, encouraging passengers to try the process and embrace the transformative benefits at their discretion.
