A travel operator laments, “I have so many processes to handle; contracts, hotel bookings, flights, itinerary planning, etc. Is there any tech solution that makes these processes easy to use? Certainly, a travel management software solution or CRM specific to the travel industry is required.”

The travel industry has its unique needs. Customers wish for a hassle-free journey and their travel plans vary. As service providers in the travel industry; tour operators, destination management companies, and travel agents need to ensure that the total travel experience meets the expectations of travellers, irrespective of the reason to travel.

In order to achieve this goal various travel operators, destination management companies, and travel agents first need to use tech solutions that facilitate a seamless experience. Thus, travel software is an apt solution.

What are the latest technologies?
 

AI, robots, voice assistance, chatbot, & Internet of Things enhance the total travel experience and they seem to be directly impacting the customer experience. There are tech solutions that the customer might not notice but are responsible for making the whole journey happy and hassle-free. Just the way they want it to be.

The software automates, regularizes, assists, and eases vital functions for all travel-related companies. Well, all industries need software that renders these benefits. Every company has various processes and customer handling is a common function so a one fits all CRM software or software that manages contracts, and payments could be ideal.

Well, that is a myth. Each business, industry, and market are different, poised with unique challenges and specific requirements.
 

Why can’t the travel industry use generic software for CRM?

Here are a few reasons why you need travel CRM software!  

Customer needs vary as per the industry. The requirements of the travel companies are distinct to the industry.

1.    How is the travel industry different?

·       Customers’ requirements vary

Their destinations, date of travel, airline choices everything varies. Clients travel on different dates and choose different destinations, airlines, and even modes of travel. How can the features needed for the travel industry be incorporated into a standard CRM software? It is imperative to have software that is exclusively meant for the travel industry.

·       Customers demand flexibility

Let’s say a traveller connects with you and intends to go to the Maldives and he wishes to explore; Hulhumale, Banana Reef, Male, Bodufolhudhoo, Sinamale Bridge, and Sultan Park. But after a few days, he might decide to change a few destinations or add some. In such a case the software should be able to accommodate these changes.  Some customers would need customized packages while some would agree on a standard package. The requirements are varied and the CRM software needs to allow this flexibility.

·       Customized tour packages

When you customize a tour for a client there are varied things to be considered- choice of hotels, airlines, destination, dates, etc. Everything has to be designed according to the client’s preference which often keeps changing. Your software should allow various permutation combinations and in fact, suggest the best possible package. We need to go a step ahead of where the software facilitates this decision-making. 

·       Quotation management system

Preparing a quotation for travel is different. It has its own nomenclatures, has to integrate with third-party suppliers, and book flights, hotels, foreign exchange, excursions, etc. The quotation management system has to find the best possible prices and real-time availability.

·       Reservation management

An online reservation system that simplifies the complex requirements of the travel industry has to be customized. It has to be able to manage various transactions related to hotels, airlines, car rentals, and various vendors.

·      Customer follow-up and customer management system

When travellers return back from a trip, their feedback, future travel plans, choice of destinations, everything needs to be tracked and observed. Based on this information prediction of future business and pattern of follow-up is decided. Can these observations be made by standard CRM software? Clearly, no it cannot.

2.    Travel software ideas

Travel industry-specific requirements and only travel software ideas can provide an apt solution. Instead of investing in generic software and then adjusting your processes to fit the software, it saves cost to have a customized software solution.

Many times, companies invest in software designed and sold by large companies owing to their brand credibility. Later on, they realize the need to adjust their business according to this software as it doesn’t accommodate their requirements. The need gap analysis clearly fails. One cannot spend time and effort in a reverse process – the tech system has to fit the needs and not the other way round.
 

3.    Shorter learning curve

If the software that you’ve incorporated in your process is customized to the travel industry, it’s easier for your team to use it. The learning curve for your team is shorter. They don’t have to put in immense efforts to use it and make it a part of their daily work life.

If the learning curve is steep, your team will find it frustrating and time-consuming, leading to complete denial to use it. In such a case, business is bound to suffer.

4.    Unique ecosystem

The entire ecosystem of the travel industry is unique and having customized software is imperative. The travel industry needs tech solutions compatible to get integrated into the existing system.

Just having a completely alien tech solution that has no understanding of the existing system is a cost-driven choice. If the new software or any other tech solution is completely devoid of understanding of the travel industry's needs it will never blend in it seamlessly.

5.    Enhances productivity

Training your team to use customized software would be easy since it is created specifically to provide solutions and resolve their challenges. So, it improves their productivity. Once they accept the new tech solution and find it easy to use, their ability to work without errors will improve and so will their agility. Now, they will be able to cater to more customers in a better way.

Afterall travel business is not only about increasing the number of customers you serve but, it involves delivering an enjoyable experience each time they travel.

At the epicentre of the travel industry is the entire network that has to be managed and the transitions that travellers make when they set to travel. The smoother the experience, the more happy customers. Thus, travel management software is necessary.

While you have been reading through these thoughts that we’ve shared, you would be eager to know more about such software. ETOS can provide you with such a customized tech solution. 

We at ETOS can help you enhance your business opportunities with web-based systems that are available with fully integrated options. We provide products that cater to tour operators, travel agents and travel companies that provide localized solutions rather than generic ones.

ETOS gives an excellent choice of a web-based system that eases business since one can access processes and information from any device from any part of the world. This convenience is what most business owners appreciate as they don’t wish to miss any opportunity that comes their way. Business growth today depends on your ability to be ahead of time, pick signals from changing scenarios, seize the opportunity and act before the competitor.

How are your customers going to react and what are their pain points? If you are able to track this information through technology, it will regularize processes, thereby creating a sustainable business and chalking a path ahead.