Samsonite, a leading luggage manufacturer and retailer, has unveiled a new innovative solution to track the disappeared luggage.

Track&Go is a device that can be put into your travel or business bag, and can easily be tracked by its owner. This latest innovation by Samsonite is backed by some very interesting tech called Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) which delivers a longer battery life and wider range technology – making it less intrusive and far efficient. The innovation is being tested with Vodafone and should be commercially available in the second half of 2017.

Missing or permanently lost luggage is the nightmare of every traveller. In 2015, 23.1 million pieces of baggage were mishandled worldwide, meaning they were temporarily or permanently lost. Of these 23.1 million pieces, the vast majority is successfully delivered back to the passengers, on average within 48 hours. Unfortunately, 6 per cent of all mishandled baggage is never reunited with its owners.
 
The Track&Go solution is based on two principles: proximity alerts and geolocation. Thanks to the proximity alerts integration, the traveller will instantly receive a smartphone notification when the bag gets out of range. This will enable the traveler to confidently leave the luggage in the dedicated compartment, while still enjoying the trip without any stress, for instance when travelling by train.

This new proof of concept test with NB-IoT will look into the future possibilities of geolocation. It would make it possible to track valuables, anytime, anyplace. In case the bag gets lost, the traveller will be able to see its current location and the necessary contact details to get the belongings back, if applicable.

Since technology is changing constantly, Samsonite will continue the research and development of user-centered solutions and new technologies that help the travel industry achieve their goal when it comes to mishandled bags and which will further improve the travel experience. The travel industry is very sensitive to safety and security, therefore the primary intention is to be compliant with all airline regulations in place, while bringing a reliable solution for the consumer.

Samsonite partners Vodafone is showing the technology at its booth 6B30 in Hall 6 during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, from February 27 to March 2. - TradeArabia News Service