A west of Ireland technology company is to generate 15 jobs from the creation of its Bag Passport product, which uses the internet to reunite travellers with their lost baggage and could potentially save the airline industry €3bn a year.
The nightmare scenario of losing baggage while travelling abroad could soon be at an end, thanks a novel new product launched by Clare-based Bagpassport.com.
The founders of Bagpassport.com plan to generate up to 15 jobs at its headquarters in Ennis over the coming months, as they roll out the product to all major airports and rail stations throughout the world.
Designed, produced and packaged in Ireland, the Bag Passport is a global luggage tag possessing a unique 12-digit code that the owner can register online or by text message at the point of sale.
Anyone who finds a missing bag enters the code along with the location and relevant contact details on Bagpassport.com. This action immediately activates a text message and email to the registered customer, telling them of the bags location and who to contact.
An estimated 42 million bags are mislaid, misdirected or lost worldwide every year, costing the global airline industry €3bn. In the US alone, some 7,000 bags enter a warehousing facility for auction every day.
“We believe this product has great potential and our plans are to make it available in 15 languages, in most major airports and rail stations throughout the world within the next 12 months,” John McCarthy of Bagpassport.com explained.
“During this period of expansion, we plan to create an additional 15 sales, marketing and R&D jobs.”
McCarthy said the versatile product could be attached to almost any item of luggage, from snowboards and golf bags to laptop cases.
“In the current economic environment, it is better to protect what you have rather than having to replace it at a much greater cost. There is no need to rely on lightweight plastic or paper tags that can be easily be torn.
“Furthermore, this product caters for the majority of people who do not like having their personal information on display ,or having baggage handlers going through their personal belongings in an attempt to identify the owner. With our tag, all personal details are stored behind the 12-digit code.”
“This product offers travellers complete peace of mind, and allows them to simply sit back and enjoy their journey, safe in the knowledge that their bags are protected by our system,” McCarthy concluded.
By John Kennedy
