At this time of year, many experts from the industry will be pondering what 2014 holds in store for travel technology and other elements of tech.
They often make predictions about what we’ll see unfold over the next twelve months (such as the Tnooz Predictions 2014!).
NB: This is an analysis by Hervé Couturier, head of research and development at Amadeus.
I am certainly no exception – but I’ve been casting my gaze a little further, to consider the trends and technologies that I think will emerge over the next few years, and which will have a profound effect on the travel industry.
1. NoSQL
The move towards NoSQL represents a fundamental development in infrastructure, from which many other innovations will be able to spring, because in a NoSQL world, a wider variety and greater quantity of data (including structured, semi-structured and unstructured data) can be stored and reviewed.
It allows for a paradigm shift in the way we store, manage, and access data – and, therefore, how we can use it.
As the move to NoSQL gathers momentum across the travel industry and beyond, systems will become faster and more reliable.
Products that require quick insights from vast quantities of data, such as complex search products, will be radically enhanced by the flexibility and speed that NoSQL offers.
2. BI Inside
Two big technology trends – analytics and automation – converge in the concept of "BI inside".
By harnessing the insights of analysis to empower automated decision-making, it’s possible for systems to become proactive rather than reactive, anticipating needs and taking action without human intervention.
A good example of this: when a traveller makes a search, results acts upon expected consumer behaviour using data from the past to almost instantaneously present travellers with appropriate travel options.
The possibilities opened up by BI Inside are seemingly endless: for example, in the face of a long check-in queue, an airline system can speed up service to customers by automatically opening up a new booth.
The system can send an alert to the customer service agent’s mobile so that when he or she arrives, the computer is booted up and can immediately begin processing customers.
It is a smoother process for all.
3. The end of TPF (Transaction Processing Facility)
TPF has been the bedrock of much modern computing, and with good reason. It is very reliable and continues to be used in industries such as financial services and stock exchanges, where this is important.
One example of the flexibility the end of TPF will bring is radically enhanced PNRs (Passenger Name Records). The information travel providers, travel sellers and third parties create and store about passengers is evolving to include more than just booking records and textual data.
An enhanced PNR will allow agencies to store any information they deem relevant, structured or unstructured – even video clips or invoices – to the traveller’s PNR, meaning that more information about the customer is available than ever before to all parties in the journey lifecycle.
This will give travel providers and travel sellers the means to really innovate when it comes to merchandising and personalisation.
4. Trip engineering
We expect to see great innovation in corporate travel over the next few years. There is some solid existing technology out there, but as the use of self-booking tools increases, there is movement and an opportunity to combine and engineer these technologies in new ways.
Trip engineering involves putting together the information and technology that already exists, to create a better and more efficient experience.
Take the example of a person planning to take an early morning flight to make a 9am meeting.
Trip engineering will look at door-to-door transportation availability, locations, and other parameters, to provide options and make recommendations on whether or not the individual should fly out the night before.
Integration and collaboration is also important in corporate travel.
For instance, many people from an organisation may be attending a conference but each individual usually handles their travel arrangements independently.
Trip engineering in this context could help by integrating schedules and providing information about other people’s travel plans.
The system would know corporate policies and could, for example, make it possible for individuals to plan and book travel via their Outlook calendars, where much information about meetings, conferences and travel is held.
5. Immersive merchandising
Merchandising and personalisation of travel services are very important for airlines as they seek to improve their bottom lines and meet customers’ expectations more effectively.
One exciting new means of achieving this is through "immersive merchandising", where the process of shopping for additional products and services is enhanced through additional, interactive information and experiences.
For example, there might be a product which uses a 360-degree view of the plane cabin to merchandise an airline’s full catalogue of ancillary services in an immersive, interactive and compelling way.
Travellers receive personalised seat options and other tailored offers, reflecting their preferences and the nature of their journey, and the system combines visuals with personalised offers.
I believe that this kind of technology will help travel providers and sellers bring their products and services to life in a way that is very appealing for the traveller.
Looking ahead
These are only a few examples of the big technologies that will change travel in the next few years. Some of these advancements are already in use, while others are a little further down the line.
Within the next few years, however, I believe all of the above will be making their presence felt.
NB: This is an analysis by Hervé Couturier, head of research and development at Amadeus.
NB2:Future technology image via Shutterstock.