Developments in baggage handling

Schiphol Airport’s baggage handling teams keep operations running smoothly, but the job isn’t easy. The work is physically demanding, repetitive, and takes a toll on employees over time. With labour shortages and evolving workforce expectations, Schiphol needed a fresh approach to improve working conditions while integrating smarter automation. With a major presentation to the Labour Inspection on the horizon, the airport needed clear, actionable insights - fast. That’s where innovation came in. Our market research uncovered practical, high-impact solutions that could transform baggage handling at Schiphol. To find the most fitting innovations, we took a deep dive into the market, combining data-driven analysis with industry expertise.

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Foundation and taxonomy

Our approach began with mapping out global trends in baggage automation. By looking at existing solutions, the output of the analysis has already gone through real-world validation, allowing Schiphol to mitigate some risks.

The resulting taxonomy of solutions covered human lifting and loading aids, system orchestration and guidance, autonomous robots and transport vehicles, ULD tippers, and emerging solutions that were still early stage.

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A closer look

Our research into baggage handling technologies revealed a strong global trend toward automation, with 56% of identified companies focused on autonomous robots. A significant number also work on system orchestration, vision, and perception, enabling smarter navigation and coordination.

Human-assistive technologies such as exoskeletons also stood out, highlighting the sector’s growing emphasis on worker safety and physical strain reduction. These insights confirm Schiphol’s strategic focus: integrating robotics to support—not replace—its workforce.