Nick Woods, CIO for Manchester Airports Group (MAG), is focused on implementing data-led technologies to give his business a competitive advantage in operational activities and customer experiences. MAG aims to become the world’s most intelligent airports by investing heavily in data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The group, which operates major UK airports, is working to predict flights, improve passenger flows, and staff facilities appropriately.
Woods joined MAG in 2016 and has led a successful transformation of the organization’s technology strategy. By replatforming applications to cloud environments and developing internal software engineering capabilities, MAG has been able to improve operational performance and passenger experiences. Despite challenges, such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the travel industry, Woods and his team have continued to enhance the group’s technology capabilities.
As part of his role as CIO, Woods has focused on bringing together people, processes, and technology to drive value in the post-pandemic age. By integrating information on flights and operations, MAG has created a single airport operational plan that provides better insights for decision-making. This proactive approach has led to improvements in predicting passenger arrivals, optimizing capacity, and enhancing customer experiences in the group’s airports. Woods recognizes that delivering a better customer experience not only benefits passengers but can also increase revenue for MAG.
