Interesting idea from TUI Travel to embrace web tools to improve relationships between its tour operating brands and retail travel agents, using private social network Yammer.
The Specialist Holidays Group division of TUI, which counts the likes of ski brand Crystal, Hayes & Jarvis, Sovereign, Thomson Tailormade and Jetsave on its portfolio, is introducing a platform where agents - both in-house and third party retail - can interact with tour operators.
Made possible by creating a network within the Yammer enterprise system, the idea is to give agents up-to-date information from tour operators about products and services, as well as allow them to liaise with officials with any questions they or a customer may have.
SHG claims it is the first of its kind in the UK.
As well as product information, including images and videos of services and other elements of a package trip, selling advice and tips will be streamed through the system.
Incentives and prizes will also be given to those using the Yammer tools.
SHG online director David Jarvis says since mid-December around 60 agents have signed up to the service and are already interacting with providers of packages they are trying to sell.
The network tools give SHG an opportunity to develop stronger relationships with internal and external agents, Jarvis says, but also allows the agents to send feedback to the operators so products can be improved or customised.
"We’re looking to involve agents more in our business and think that social networking is an ideal channel to communicate and get feedback from the trade."
TUI says it is considering extending the Yammer platform so other suppliers can be included, such as accommodation providers and airlines.
Agents already have a number of similar social networks available to them, but these are provided by the GDSs, such as the Travelport Opinions and Sabre AgentStream platforms.