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Many tour operators use online platforms to transform their business practices and help them grow. The impact of technology on tourism is evident these days as travel service providers are extending personalized service since travelers prefer personalized travel experience too.
Here are a few pointers on how tour operators and Destination Management Companies can provide personalized travel experiences using technology:
1. Customized travel plans:
- This is one of the most efficient and helpful ways by which tour operators and customers can benefit from technology since travelers can just make their bookings through a few clicks and customize the way they want it.
- Since everything is organized digitally, it reduces human efforts, increases efficiency, and speeds up the process of creating plans.
- One can skip the places they are not interested in, virtually see all the places they have options from, and adjust their time, dates, and budget to get the perfect travel plan.
2. Online customer service:
- One can get all the information about their travel, weather conditions, and other essential trip factors in just one place on their online devices.
- This gives quick access to all the information the traveler needs and leads to a personalized travel experience. Tour operators and DMCs can provide online customer services.
3. 24/7 customer support:
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Almost everyone today uses their smartphones; thus, having an online presence can give tour operators a great space to solve problems and doubts of consumers at any given place or time. This helps enhance one’s travel experience and gives them a sense of comfort.
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Chatbots help communicate with customers.
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With the help of artificial intelligence, one can curate instant responses to particular questions can provide insights and other information depending on the travelers’ queries. This highly benefits tour operators and customers, leading to instant communication.
4. Centralized database:
The websites/online space can have all the vital information they need about their suppliers, partners, plans, contracts, etc., on just one platform.
One can immediately get all the data and documents regarding:
- Cancelation rules
- Promotions
- Travel plans
- Price-lists
One can also easily check for the following with the help of technology:
- Availability of tickets
- Track specific allocations
- Weather conditions
- Ticket prices
Travel agents and DMCs don’t need to keep searching for information from various sources to design packages and itineraries. It's a painstaking activity and time-consuming if the information is unavailable on one platform. Technology makes things more accessible by providing all vital information on one platform (place).
5. Automated booking facility
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People can just book their travel through technology by selecting the place, dates, times, preferred travel options, food options, budget, etc. They can curate their plan.
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This is also helpful for tech-savvy people who would rather not talk to many people. If they have doubts, they can be helped through chatbots, emails, or FAQs mentioned on the website.
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With technology, it's comparatively easier for tour operators to manage bookings and cancelations as all the communication history is stored systematically in one place. They can access it at any given time.
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It also helps create a secure business continuity and gives a place for multiple people to make bookings simultaneously.
6. Improved services:
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A good way to improve your tour business is by shifting from all-human customer service to digital self-service. This can enhance the quality of customer service, provide work-from-home opportunities to people and part-time students and give instant services to consumers.
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It makes a fantastic and quick customer experience with a combination of human contact and technology. There can be options for making phone calls or just texting, depending on their comfort.
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They’ll get faster responses and more accurate information and receive additional offers and travel tips with this method.
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Tour operators, with the help of technology, can save all the customer data online and create personalized offers or use customized itineraries provided by online platforms.
7. Empowering the customer:
Tour operators can place their offers and availability for customers and travel agents on their B2C or B2B websites. Travelers can:
- Check descriptions
- Travel products
- Photos, and
- other tour-related information online.
They can log into their B2B/B2C portal to check:
- Payment history and other purchases,
- Cancel their reservations or shift them according to their convenience
- Download any critical document they need, or submit them all through the comfort of technology.
8. Enhanced operations:
With process automation, tour operators can conveniently manage
- Communication with suppliers and partners,
- Assign guides and drivers for the tour
- Track all the inventory
- Check in with the ordering and booking processes
- Create flight and bus lists, and
- Create transfer and rooming availability.
They can also
- Create invoices for customers with all the payment links and instructions.
- Verify the supplier invoices accurately
- Track all online and offline payments.
They can also improve cash flow and manage all the exchange rates online as it becomes more convenient.
9. Insights:
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Both parties can get insights into what concerns them. Travelers can get insights into the products, suppliers, sales, employees, and reviews, while tour operators can check how many people they have on their sites, what time is the best time for bookings, what’s the popular place to travel, etc.
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They can also understand the current trend and create packages for other consumers, make travel groups, or host cruises or parties.
10. Reviews and feedback:
- People can give their reviews and send their travel information online.
- Tour operators can get quick consumer feedback.
- Other travelers and users can check these reviews to determine if the travel agency matches their preferences.
There can be automated release processes and a centralized overview of users for better targeting through this too. People rely on trusted partners, and by using online methods and technology, one can provide their users with the best travel experience!
This is just the beginning. We are yet to witness the impact of technology on travel in a big way in the near future.
ETOS provides travel management software that can enhance the travel service you deliver to customers and provide them personalized travel experience. Destination Management Process becomes quicker and more efficient with our software.
Connect with our team for custom CRM software and various travel management systems to grow your business and delight your customers.
