Written by Sander Opdam, AMS Site Manager
Wrapping Up 2025 at AMS:
As we close the chapter on 2025, it’s a time to reflect on the intensive project work and significant operational milestones achieved by the ServiceTec team at Schiphol and across the Netherlands.
This year was defined by two central themes: securing our long-term presence and driving the implementation of major European and airport infrastructure projects.
The SITA Contract Renewal
Earlier this year we’ve signed an MOU which should pave the way for the successful finalisation of our SITA contract extension.
Looking ahead, our partnership with SITA is already expanding into future infrastructure. We are now actively involved in the A-pier project, the newest concourse set to open for passengers in Q2 2027. Our team is responsible for installing and commissioning the CUTE hardware and software, and integrating the new Vision-Box (Amadeus) Self-Service Boarding devices.
The EES Saga Continues: Nearing Full Go-Live
The journey with the European Entry Exit System (EES) kiosks, which has seen its share of delays and extensive modifications over the last two years (rewiring, UPS removal, and the revised electrical plans mentioned in our summer edition), is finally nearing its goal.
The proposed phased go-live beginning in October 2025 gave us the clarity we needed to transition into full operational support. We are now providing dedicated Support and Maintenance for the EES kiosks (IDEMIA), operating at a 100% SLA requirement from 4am to 10pm, 7 days a week at Schiphol, and 7am to 6pm across our 10 nationwide sites.
While the kiosks are currently being used with live passengers, the usage is still limited. The target is to achieve 100% usage by March 2026. The primary focus now is resolving remaining backend connectivity issues with the EU-LISA systems.
Even though the usage isn’t up to full speed, we’re already required to act as if the system is business critical. This means the team is facing new challenges as some of the NL Border Force kiosks require up to a six-hour round trip, and downtime in these smaller clusters has a much larger impact.
Mid-Life Upgrade for Self-Service Passport Control (SSPC)
Our collaboration with Vision-Box (Amadeus) on the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) for the 78 Self-Service Passport Control eGates is well underway and has been one of our smaller but interesting projects this year.
In the initial phases, ServiceTec played a support role, assisting the project team with dismantling old eGates and installing the new hardware, including new chassis elements, camera periscopes, document readers, and PCs. Although Vision-Box now handles the core installation, our initial hands-on involvement has given us invaluable, first-hand insight into the new system. This knowledge provides us with a significant head start in supporting the system, even before formal maintenance training is provided, a huge benefit for future SLA performance.
The upgraded eGates are now being fully equipped with fingerprint readers and an indirect connection to EES. This integration ensures full automation for border crossings by non-EU nationals. When an EES check isn’t required, the performance improvement is remarkable: the processing speed for a single passenger has been halved compared to the old system. The overall flow is managed seamlessly, as the EES kiosks will direct eligible passengers to the SSPC through clear instructions.
Supporting Airport Infrastructure Behind the Scenes
Finally, our team’s dedication and flexibility have led to new opportunities directly with Schiphol. Our highly effective work on the Control Centre renovation project, where we efficiently dismantled and re-installed workstations, was noted by the airport. This successful effort resulted in a direct request for ServiceTec to assist with a similar, high-profile project: the refurbishment of the Air Traffic Control tower, scheduled to begin in early 2026.
I’m certain this positions us strongly in our ambition to secure a direct contract with the airport for future IT service delivery.
As always, I want to express my gratitude to every member of the team. The efforts expended, whether securing a five-year contract, managing complex electrical modifications, or driving six hours for a single kiosk repair, demonstrate an unwavering commitment to excellence.
I wish you all a well-deserved, wonderful holiday season, and a happy and productive start to 2026!
