Sabre has struck a long-term deal with Microsoft to expand its cloud-based offerings.
The announcement comes a few weeks after the travel technology company entered into a similar agreement with Amazon Web Services.
With Microsoft, Sabre will transition its commercial applications to Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform. The migration will increase the stability and security of Sabre’s products, as well as allow for intelligent distribution.
The partnership will also explore opportunities to create new services for Sabre’s hotel, airline and agency customers through artificial intelligence and analytics.
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Sabre CIO Joe DiFonzo says that, following the deal with AWS, Sabre always intended to have more than one cloud provider.
Partnering with both Microsoft and AWS gives the company “maximum portability” and “provides incentives for cloud providers not to take our business for granted,” he says.
“The cloud presents an opportunity to rapidly innovate, create and deliver new business value for Sabre and our customers. Microsoft is more than a technology provider for us. Their team will be a key asset in our transformation, through proven leadership in the cloud space along with industry expertise and best practice methodology to help us realize our vision.”
Earlier this year, Sabre and Microsoft collaborated on the pilot launch of Ella, an AI-powered chatbot that assists travel agencies.
And on the NDC front...
Following the April rollout of its NDC plans, Sabre today has unveiled more details, including that customers will be able to shop for and book NDC content alongside traditional content in its Sabre Red Workspace this year.
Sabre is currently working with travel agency group Flight Centre to test the functionality and plans to kick off pilot programs with additional agency and airline customers in the third quarter of 2018.
“The goal is to collaborate with strategic pilot partners on development and integration with our solutions, testing our end-to-end capabilities to process NDC-enabled offers,” says Kathy Morgan, Sabre vice president of strategic initiatives.