{"id":37965,"date":"2025-06-16T17:47:30","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T21:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/airportscouncil.org\/?p=37965"},"modified":"2025-06-17T09:09:06","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T13:09:06","slug":"the-benefits-of-best-of-breed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/airportscouncil.org\/2025\/06\/16\/the-benefits-of-best-of-breed\/","title":{"rendered":"The benefits of \u2018best of breed\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Chad Leqve, Vice President of Strategy and Chief Growth Officer, Copenhagen Optimization<\/em><\/p>\n

Chad Leqve, Vice President of Strategy and Chief Growth Officer at Copenhagen Optimization, shares his thoughts on how today\u2019s operational pressures at U.S. airports underscore the urgent need for better use of data, analytics, and planning. He also emphasizes that the architecture behind the technology used to support these functions is not just a technical detail\u2014it\u2019s a strategic choice.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>With passenger volumes expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels globally this year, airport infrastructure is under immense strain. Longer lines, delayed flights, and increasing traveler dissatisfaction reveal a system stretched to its limits. To meet rising demand without depending solely on costly capital projects, airports must embrace smart, data-enabled strategies. In today\u2019s environment, integrating analytics into airport operations isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s essential. It allows airports to solve current problems and prepare for future opportunities, all while improving the traveler experience.<\/p>\n

This transformation requires more than just adopting new tools; it demands a shift in mindset\u2014one that treats data, planning, and analytics as core components of day-to-day operations.<\/p>\n

For decades, airports have relied on monolithic systems that bundled Resource Management Systems (RMS) and Airport Operational Databases (AODB) into a single solution. RMS ensures the right resources\u2014gates, stands, ticket counters\u2014are available when needed, while the AODB serves as the central hub for storing and distributing real-time operational data.<\/p>\n

These solutions were once sufficient, but airport operations have evolved. Expectations have grown, and operations now extend well beyond the traditional use cases of gate and baggage management. Modern airports need solutions that are scalable, easy to maintain, resilient to failure, and adaptable to new operational demands.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s challenges require a best-of-breed approach, where airports select specialized, modular systems that excel in their individual domains rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all product. While this may seem more complex at first, it actually reflects a more accurate architecture: RMS and AODB are functionally distinct, and there is no technical necessity to bundle them together.<\/p>\n

Modular architectures allow airports to:<\/p>\n