What happened to Bluesmart luggage?

The Untimely Demise of Bluesmart: A Smart Luggage Pioneer Grounded

Bluesmart promised to revolutionize travel with its innovative, tech-laden luggage. Equipped with features like GPS tracking, digital locks, built-in scales, and a convenient phone charging port, it was hailed as the future of travel. But this future proved to be short-lived. On May 1, 2018, Bluesmart abruptly ceased operations, leaving customers and the industry wondering: what happened?

The answer, in short, is batteries. Bluesmart’s groundbreaking features relied heavily on integrated lithium-ion batteries. These batteries, while offering convenient power for its smart features, became the company’s Achilles heel. In late 2017, major US airlines began implementing stricter regulations on “smart luggage” that contained non-removable batteries.

The rationale behind the ban was simple: fire safety. Lithium-ion batteries are known for their potential to overheat and even ignite, especially if damaged. Airlines feared that a damaged suitcase in the cargo hold could pose a significant fire hazard. The crucial caveat of the new regulations was that smart luggage could be allowed if the batteries were easily removable.

This presented a fatal flaw for Bluesmart. Their integrated batteries were not designed for easy removal, making their flagship products non-compliant with the new airline policies. To comply, they would have had to completely redesign their luggage, a costly and time-consuming endeavor for a relatively small company.

The airline ban hit Bluesmart hard. Sales plummeted as travelers were hesitant to invest in luggage they might not be able to take on airplanes. Without a significant revenue stream, the company quickly ran out of resources. The nail in the coffin came when Bluesmart announced its closure, citing the airline restrictions as the primary reason.

While Bluesmart is gone, its intellectual property lives on. Travelpro, a well-established luggage manufacturer, acquired Bluesmart’s patents and designs after the company’s demise. This suggests that some of the innovative features pioneered by Bluesmart may find their way into future Travelpro products, though likely with redesigned battery compartments for airline compliance.

Unfortunately, for existing Bluesmart customers, the closure meant more than just the loss of a promising product. It also meant the end of support for their already purchased smart suitcases. The app that controlled the digital lock and tracked the luggage became effectively useless. While the physical suitcase itself remains functional, the very features that attracted customers in the first place were rendered obsolete.

The story of Bluesmart serves as a cautionary tale for startups in the tech-driven travel space. While innovation is key, understanding and adapting to regulatory changes, particularly those related to safety, is paramount. It also underscores the importance of removable battery options in portable electronics designed for air travel. While Bluesmart may be gone, its legacy remains: a reminder of the potential pitfalls of innovative design and the crucial need for adaptability in a rapidly evolving world. The smart luggage market continues to evolve, but the lessons learned from Bluesmart’s experience will undoubtedly shape its future.