What are the new innovations in the travel industry that will improve the whole travel experience for customers?
Up until now, most technological developments have focused on the booking experience and airport processes.
Much of the booking process has shifted online, which makes it much easier for travellers and gives them unprecedented access to competitive fares.
However, while the shift towards online has been extremely important, mobile phones, including mobile internet, create even more opportunity to take developments in the travel industry to the next level.
As a result, looking well into the future, we could envisage the next stage in travel taking the form of a virtual travel assistant which would stay with the traveller and assist them throughout their journey.
This means the business traveller could explain what he or she wants to do and a system using artificial intelligence would automatically build trip proposals, and the virtual personal assistant will accompany the traveller throughout their trip providing advice and updates.
Moreover, there is the opportunity to personalise such an offering. By, for example, providing a choice of different voiceovers – even those of celebrities – travel companies can connect with their customers in a more personal way.
However, in order to make this a reality, there will need to be a powerful mix of current and emerging technologies including Near Field Communication, speech recognition and social networking amongst others.
While many of these technologies will help the business traveller’s experience, the great news is that they also deliver efficiencies back to the business, giving organisations more control over travel policy compliance, expenses and itinerary management.
Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionise passenger access to information, their safety and peace of mind.
Travel companies muist continue to invest in R&D, as we see this as the next logical step in travel technology development.
Happy travel managers, but most importantly happy travellers.
What are the new innovations in the travel industry that will improve the whole travel experience for customers?
Up until now, most technological developments have focused on the booking experience and airport processes.
Much of the booking process has shifted online, which makes it much easier for travellers and gives them unprecedented access to competitive fares.
However, while the shift towards online has been extremely important, mobile phones, including mobile internet, create even more opportunity to take developments in the travel industry to the next level.
As a result, looking well into the future, we could envisage the next stage in travel taking the form of a virtual travel assistant which would stay with the traveller and assist them throughout their journey.
This means the business traveller could explain what he or she wants to do and a system using artificial intelligence would automatically build trip proposals, and the virtual personal assistant will accompany the traveller throughout their trip providing advice and updates.
Moreover, there is the opportunity to personalise such an offering. By, for example, providing a choice of different voiceovers – even those of celebrities – travel companies can connect with their customers in a more personal way.
However, in order to make this a reality, there will need to be a powerful mix of current and emerging technologies including Near Field Communication, speech recognition and social networking amongst others.
While many of these technologies will help the business traveller’s experience, the great news is that they also deliver efficiencies back to the business, giving organisations more control over travel policy compliance, expenses and itinerary management.
Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionise passenger access to information, their safety and peace of mind.
Travel companies muist continue to invest in R&D, as we see this as the next logical step in travel technology development.
Happy travel managers, but most importantly happy travellers.
NB: This How To is authored by Tim Russell, UK and Ireland MD for Amadeus.