Hotels Move to BLE Door Locks

Hotels Migrate from RFID to BLE door Locks to Stay Relevant

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 2, 2026

The hospitality industry is entering a new phase where legacy technologies are being left behind. With support for older systems like magstripe and traditional RFID locks gradually coming to an end, hotels are now faced with a clear decision to upgrade.

What was once considered modern is now becoming outdated.

RFID locks, while reliable in the past, no longer meet the expectations of today’s mobile first guests. Key cards are easily lost, duplicated, or demagnetized, and maintaining these systems is becoming increasingly difficult as industry support declines.

In contrast, Bluetooth Low Energy locks [BLE] are built for the way guests travel today.

With BLE, smartphones become secure digital keys. Guests can check in before arrival, skip the front desk, and access their rooms instantly. The experience becomes seamless, fast, and completely contactless.

Security is also significantly enhanced. BLE locks use advanced technologies like AES 128 encryption and mutual authentication, making them far more secure than traditional key based systems. Hotels gain the ability to issue and revoke access remotely, monitor usage, and maintain full control in real time.

Global leaders such as Onity, Dormakaba, SALTO and ASSA ABLOY VingCard are already driving this shift, making BLE locks the new benchmark for modern hotels.

However, upgrading to BLE locks is only part of the transformation. To truly deliver a connected and seamless guest journey, hotels need a platform that brings access, services, and operations together.

This is where products like GuestEzee are playing a key role globally.

GuestEzee is a comprehensive guest management platform designed for the digital era of hospitality. It enables guests to complete check in before arrival, use their mobile phones as room keys through BLE integration, and access all hotel services through a single app. From in room dining to service requests, everything becomes faster, simpler, and more intuitive.

For hotels, GuestEzee integrates with multiple PMS systems, door lock technologies, and F and B POS platforms. This flexibility allows it to work across all types of properties, from independent hotels to large chains and serviced accommodations. It reduces operational dependency on the front desk while enhancing guest satisfaction and efficiency.

With solutions like GuestEzee now available worldwide, the adoption of BLE locks has become easier, more scalable, and more practical for hotels of all sizes.

The shift from RFID to BLE is no longer optional. It is a necessary step toward building smarter, safer, and more connected hotels.

Because in today’s hospitality landscape, the experience begins at the door, and the future opens with BLE.

Uber Partners with ixigo to Launch Train Ticket Booking on App

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 19, 2026

Uber has announced the launch of Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app in partnership with ixigo, India’s leading AI-native travel platform. The new feature allows riders to book train tickets, check PNR status and manage their first and last-mile travel connections through a single app.

The launch marks another step in Uber’s growing focus on expanding its intercity travel offerings in India. By combining ixigo’s train booking technology with Uber’s mobility services, the partnership aims to make long-distance travel planning easier and more connected for passengers.

Train travel continues to be one of India’s most preferred modes of transportation, with Indian Railways carrying 741 crore passengers in FY2025–26. As online train ticket booking continues to grow, Uber and ixigo are bringing together train reservations and local mobility solutions to offer a smoother travel experience from the starting point to the final destination.

Commenting on the partnership, Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia, said, "Train journeys are an integral part of how India travels. For millions of people, the journey starts well before they board the train and continues long after they arrive at their destination. With Train Ticket Booking on the Uber app, riders can now book their train tickets, check their PNR status, and seamlessly connect to and from the railway station, all within a single app. We’re pleased to partner with ixigo to bring together their expertise in train ticketing with Uber’s mobility platform, making the overall travel experience more seamless and convenient for riders.”

Sharing their views on the partnership, Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO and Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO, ixigo, said, “As India's largest OTA in the train category, our focus has always been on making rail travel simpler, more reliable and stress-free. Beyond booking tickets, we've continued to invest in a seamless post-booking experience, better customer support and innovative features that give travellers greater peace of mind throughout their journey. By partnering with Uber, we're extending that experience beyond the train itself, enabling travellers to plan their journey seamlessly from their doorstep to their destination.”

Uber already has a strong presence at railway stations across India, offering dedicated pickup and drop-off zones at locations ranging from Ahmedabad in the West, Secunderabad in the South and Howrah in the East, with more railway stations expected to be added soon.

With the introduction of Train Ticket Booking, Uber is extending its railway station connectivity services to support travellers throughout their entire journey. The company’s multimodal mobility platform now includes Moto, Auto, Cars, Metro, Intercity Cars, Intercity Buses and Train Ticket Booking.

Through this expansion, Uber aims to become a single platform for different travel needs, helping riders move more conveniently across cities and across the country.

How to Book Train Tickets on Uber:

● Open the Uber app.
● Select ‘Bus & Train’ from the home screen or Services section, then choose train tickets.
● Enter the origin, destination and travel date.
● Browse available trains and select the preferred option.
● Complete the booking through the app.
● Access ticket details and check PNR status directly within Uber.
● Book an Uber ride to and from the railway station for a seamless travel experience.

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Air India Hits One Million Inflight WiFi Users Across Connected Fleet

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 19, 2026

Air India has recorded more than one million inflight WiFi users over the past 12 months, reflecting the growing demand for onboard internet services among travellers.

According to the airline, over one million passengers connected to its inflight WiFi service between June 2025 and June 2026 across its WiFi-enabled fleet. The service is currently available on more than 55 daily flights operated by 28 connected aircraft.

The airline said passenger adoption has increased significantly during the year, with WiFi usage rising from 30 per cent in June 2025 to 55 per cent in June 2026.

Usage data shows that inflight connectivity is being driven largely by entertainment and social media. Around 89 per cent of connected passengers used the service to stream content or access social media platforms, while the remaining 11 per cent used it for web browsing, emails and messaging applications.

Over the 12-month period, passengers consumed nearly 500 terabytes of data through the airline's onboard network. Streaming services accounted for 86 per cent of total data usage, while web browsing made up the remaining 14 per cent.

Air India's inflight WiFi service is currently available on international routes served by its connected fleet, including flights to London, New York, Newark, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bali, Manila and Mauritius.

The airline said it plans to gradually expand onboard connectivity as more aircraft are equipped with WiFi, extending the service to additional routes in the future.

Introduced as part of Air India's broader efforts to enhance passenger experience and digital services, the inflight WiFi platform has witnessed steady growth over the past year. The airline noted that demand has been particularly strong on long-haul international flights, where passengers increasingly expect uninterrupted internet access throughout their journey.

While Air India did not disclose the number of individual devices connected or the average data consumed per passenger, it said the service has maintained consistent growth since its rollout.