India, June 19 -- After using all kinds of suitcases over the years, from bargain buys that barely survived a weekend trip to premium cases that rolled smoother than some airport trolleys, I have arrived at a simple conclusion. Before I tell you if a smart suitcase is worth spending your money on, it helps to understand what it actually is and who it is designed for.

Think of smart luggage the way you would think of high heels. Plenty of people love them, swear by them and cannot imagine life without them. Plenty of others try them once and immediately decide they are not for them. Neither side is wrong. A smart suitcase is not a must-have travel item. It is a niche product built for a very specific kind of traveller. Usually, that is so...