Skift Take
By acquiring Argentinan supplier Whyline, Clear is doubling down on innovation that permits travelers to reserve an area in line when they sign in for their flight. This “virtual queueing” tech might be used outside of airports, too, such as at attraction parks, in conference places, and on cruise liner.
Sean O’Neill
Clear, the airport screening and biometric identity company, said on Tuesday it had actually purchased Whyline, a seller of virtual queuing and visit systems based in Argentina.
The business didn’t disclose the worth of the all-cash purchase. Whyline had actually raised $5.6 million in financing.
The deal is Clear’s very first acquisition considering that going public on June 29, 2021. The going public put $409 million on its balance sheet, helping with future acquisitions.
Whyline helps business handle consumer streams through the use of virtual queuing.
For instance, travelers at Seattle’s Sea-Tac Airport at three checkpoints can reduce their waits at airport security by utilizing a mobile app to see the live wait times and entering their place in a “quick lane” queue from another location by pre-booking their appointment. The software informs passengers when it’s their appointed time to show up to the fast lane and travel through.
Seattle’s Spot Saver program handled more than 187,000 reservations in summer 2021, the Port of Seattle stated.
“Over the previous five years, the Whyline team has built excellent technology that is assisting change our day-to-day lives and regimens for the better,” stated Clear CEO Caryn Seidman-Becker. “With this acquisition, we’re assisting people and partners invest less time waiting and more time doing what matters most to them.”
Seidman-Becker said the offer would accomplish 3 goals: It will cement Clear’s lead as a vendor with airport reservation lanes in signed contracts and continuous tests at airports in Los Angeles, Seattle, Newark, Charleston, Orlando, and Calgary.
The deal will assist Clear expand beyond the U.S. because Whyline has partners in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Canada.
The offer will also provide Clear another item to sell to non-travel markets, such as retail, banking, and federal government agencies such as departments of automobile.
Clear’s Method Made Clear
Updated Oct. 9, 2021