SUMMER 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 27
SITA - COVER STORY
What have you learnt during
that time about border
security measures?
The needs of border agencies are
evolving rapidly. Global pressures
from terrorism and human
tra昀케cking continue to grow but
equally the need to have seamless
and integrated border crossing
processes that maintain the
utmost security whilst facilitating
passengers that don’t pose a
threat or risk. To become a trusted
partner of choice, we’ve worked
is gaining momentum.
Airports across the UK and
Europe are expanding fast, but
infrastructure alone can’t solve
everything. Without modern digital
border systems, governments are
left juggling manual processes,
rising security risks, and growing
traveler volumes—all at once.
It’s a tough balancing act. We’re
here to help make it simpler, with
more connected solutions that are
built for the way the world moves
today.
Pedro Alves
need to act. They are turning
to advanced technologies to
strengthen border security while
unlocking more 昀氀uid experiences
for travellers. Our goal is to help
our customers reimagine border
operations—building toward a
digital future where borders are
dynamic, adapting in real time
to policy shifts; integrated, with
agencies working from a single,
shared view; and seamless for
travelers, from the point of arrival
to departure and beyond.
For example, automation
and digital identity is providing
a seamless travel experience to
meet expectations of frictionless
border crossings. A seamless
process bene昀椀ts travellers and
border agencies, allowing them
to focus resources on identifying
high-risk individuals rather than
processing routine passenger
entries. That’s an exciting next
chapter for us at SITA Borders.
What things are stopping
governments from acting
now?
closely with our customers to
deliver solutions that balance
strong security with respect for
traveller privacy and data, while
supporting the seamless 昀氀ow of
people and goods. Collaboration
is paramount and the human
factor is one of the key success
factors.
Yet data from IATA shows
more than 70% of travellers still
face long queues and repeated
document checks. Threequarters say they would prefer
to use biometrics to board and
pass through immigration. With
the EU’s Entry/Exit System
(EES) and Digital Identity Wallet
approaching—providing a secure
platform for EU citizens to store
and verify their identity—the shift
What do governments need
to do to transform their
border management?
I’ve seen how the right technology
can help border agencies move
faster, stay more secure, and
focus on what really matters—
keeping their borders secure,
goods 昀氀owing and delivering a
better experience for travelers
and o昀케cers alike. But I’ve also
seen the same obstacles come
up time and again. And quite
often, small changes can lead
to major improvements. As I
mentioned earlier, collaboration is
fundamental.
As global mobility increases and
threats become more complex,
governments understand the
There are four persistent
myths holding back the digital
transformation of borders:
First, the fear of failure. A
widely quoted statistic says 93%
of digital transformation projects
are expected to fail. That creates
understandable hesitation.
But failure is not inevitable. It
often results from the mistaken
belief that transformation is
about technology alone. In our
experience, success comes
when people, processes, and
technology are aligned around a
clear, shared outcome.
Second, the belief that
transformation is too complex.
It doesn’t have to be. Large
programmes can be broken down
into manageable phases tied to
real operational needs. When
done this way, transformation
becomes measurable and
practical. It’s about leveraging the
expertise gathered over the past
decades, beginning with simple
modular steps, integrating and
then scaling up. In other words,
start small but thinking big. Even
modest, well-executed steps can
lead to signi昀椀cant gains in Border
crossing processes.
Third, the perception that it
is too expensive to modernise.
Transformation does require
GPSJ
investment, but it doesn’t mean
starting from scratch. By building
on what already exists, such as
legacy infrastructure, systems,
and data, governments can
generate value quickly and scale
at their own pace. When done
right, modernisation pays for itself.
And equally important, what is
the true cost of not modernizing
borders?
Fourth, the idea that
governments must do it alone.
In fact, collaboration is essential.
The most successful projects
happen when governments
bring their vision, and we bring
the insight, experience, and
technology to enable it. Working
together turns risk into resilience.
So what’s the solution?
The future of borders lies in
simplicity, security, and seamless
昀氀ow. Smart border systems
should support the e昀케cient
movement of people and goods,
not slow it down.
This kind of transformation
takes time, and the path is not
always easy. But with the right
partners, a shared vision, and a
phased, practical approach, it’s
absolutely within reach. We’re
working with governments every
day to make that future a reality,
step by step, building solutions
that work for people, operations,
and policy alike.
How can governments
achieve your ‘frictionless’
solution while maintaining
secure borders?
We’re at a tipping point. Border
controls must become modular
and dynamic, fully integrated,
and seamless, collaborating with
government agencies to meet
rising expectations and increasing
operational demands.
As passenger numbers
continue to grow, governments
need to stay agile. That means
working with long-term industry
partners and using proven
technologies that can enable and
evolve with their needs. We are
here to support that journey with
trusted partnerships, scalable and
interoperable solutions, and with
a focus on joint innovation that
delivers real-world results.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2025
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