Shaping the Future of Planning Staff: Highlights from our Latest Product Exchange

Getting into direct exchange with our planning staff and equipment community remains one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. Since the GS Planning Product Exchange was first introduced, I’ve looked forward to each session with great enthusiasm.

Our first exchange of the year took place on April 29. Encouraged by the positive feedback from previous events, we continued with the trusted format: a free, one-hour online session. GroundStar users from around the world came together to explore challenges, share expertise, and learn from one another.

The Planning Product Exchange is about more than just product updates. It’s a space for real conversations between INFORM and the professionals who manage complex day-to-day operations. I’m proud to say that this session truly highlighted the value of this ongoing dialogue.

An Engaged and Growing Community

Customer representatives from around the world joined us, with the largest groups coming from the Americas (52%) and Europe (41%). The growing participation is a strong sign that our GroundStar community remains active and continues to expand, driven by a shared commitment to advancing planning staff and equipment strategies.

What We Covered in April

The agenda was shaped by real-world challenges and inspired by feedback from our planning users. It covered the following topics:

• Harmonizing and Extending Shift Plan KPIs & Reporting
  Introduced at our recent User Conference, this topic focused on product updates that support cross-shift plan evaluations. These new features bring greater transparency and improved performance tracking for planners.
• A Modeling Example for Planning Ground Support Equipment (GSE)
  Using a demo scenario, we explored how to structure and apply GSE planning based on modeling best practices. This sparked valuable discussion among participants managing complex ground operations.
• Comparing Workload with What-if Scenarios
  We demonstrated how workload variants can be used to compare planning staff strategies based on scheduled versus predicted flight times. Leveraging resource pool logic, task rule formulas, embedded reporting, and workload curve analytics, this feature offers planners greater flexibility and foresight.

To wrap up, we hosted a lively Q&A session. Attendees brought forward practical questions and shared insightful perspectives. Just the kind of collaborative exchange we strive to foster!

The Value of Staying Connected

More than just a presentation of updates, the Planning Product Exchange enables two-way communication. It’s about listening to your experiences, learning from your use cases, and incorporating your feedback into the roadmap.

Planning staff and equipment in global airport environments comes with regional nuances, but many challenges are often shared. That’s why creating space for open dialogue across customer organizations is something we’re committed to continuing. That means joining for a chat and walking away with actionable takeaways.

What´s Next?

I’m very pleased with the success of our April session. The strong turnout and high level of engagement once again proved how well this format is received.

As we prepare for the next Planning Product Exchange, we’ll continue listening to your feedback to shape the agenda. We’re excited to keep fostering a platform where users feel supported, inspired, and empowered to take their planning to the next level.

So, GroundStar (GS) Planning Staff and Equipment users—save the date: September 2! 

Stay tuned for more updates about our upcoming session.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us this time. See you soon!

Are you a GroundStar customer with questions about this format? Feel free to contact me.