In 2020, travellers arrived at the airport with a folder full of documents, anxiously searching for their passports among printed bookings and constantly worrying they might have forgotten something.
By 2026, a single smartphone will suffice: Facial recognition systems will scan your face, documents will be stored in a digital wallet, and internet access abroad will be available immediately upon arrival.
Digital solutions have freed tourists from stress, lines, and paperwork.
However, to fully benefit from this new reality -- receiving flight notifications, tracking baggage location, and using maps and translators -- stable connectivity is essential from the very first minutes abroad.
This is where next-generation eSIM providers like Yesim come into play, delivering real convenience, savings, and comfort while travelling abroad.
Five technologies that eliminated paperwork
Biometric identification is already operational at OR Tambo and Cape Town International: Half of all passengers pass through security, immigration control, and boarding via facial recognition without presenting their passports once.
South Africa has also introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system (eta.dha.gov.za) and visa applications are processed within 24 hours instead of weeks of consular queues.
CT security scanners complete the picture: 3D scanning and AI threat detection eliminate the need to remove laptops and liquids from bags, drastically reducing lines.
Behind the scenes, AI agents have taken over the routine. They sync with calendars, track flights, and automatically rebook connections during delays.
Meanwhile, IoT baggage tracking via RFID tags allows South African travellers to monitor their suitcase's exact location from check-in through carousel arrival, minimising losses.
These five technologies have transformed bureaucratic nightmares into seamless experiences — but only with reliable internet from the first minute after landing.
eSIM as critical infrastructure for digital travel
All five technologies above are useless without a stable internet connection abroad. Biometrics don't work without online verification, AI agents can't rebook flights offline, and baggage tracking doesn't update without a connection.
But traditional connectivity options create new problems: roaming from home operators is expensive and unpredictable (especially if you forget to disable automatic app updates), buying a local SIM card means searching for a sales point at the airport, dealing with queues and language barriers, while public Wi-Fi at airports is slow, unstable, and unsafe for banking operations.
The solution is eSIM -- a microchip built into your smartphone that allows you to remotely download and activate profiles from different carriers.
For example, the travel eSIM provider Yesim partners with over 800 local operators in more than 170 countries, giving travellers a ready-made infrastructure for reliable internet.
How it works
First, check if your device is compatible, then download the Yesim app, select your destination country, purchase a data package (there’s a test plan with 500 MB for R10 to check quality), receive a QR code, and activate the profile in your smartphone settings. You can set up the app comfortably at home and activate it in just a minute upon arrival in another country.
The plane lands in Paris, you turn on your phone and the eSIM automatically activates, connecting to the best French operator.
Internet works from the first second. While other passengers are searching for SIM card sales points or trying to connect to overloaded Wi-Fi, you've already called a taxi, mapped your route, and messaged your family.
For frequent travellers, Yesim offers the Global Package (covering over 80 countries) and Global Plus (over 140 countries). A real standout is the Pay & Fly plan, a pay-as-you-go model: one eSIM works worldwide, and you only pay for the data you use.
New users can also use the promo code GETYESIM15 to get a 15% discount on their first order.
Welcome to the era of stress-free travel
Biometrics instead of passports, AI instead of travel agents, smart luggage instead of lost suitcases -- what seemed like science fiction just five years ago is now a reality for travellers from South Africa.
However, it’s important to remember that all this digital magic relies on a reliable connection.
Without the internet, biometrics are useless, AI agents stay silent, and baggage notifications don’t arrive.
That’s why you should activate your eSIM at home and let technology work for you from the very first minute abroad.