Two and a half years since the (then) controversial New Distribution Capability project was unveiled by IATA, yet there appears plenty still to do to energise the industry.
A survey of nearly 200 travel buyers (three quarters from the UK, rest from mainland Europe) found that a high level of uncertainty still exists around NDC, a process to standardise how airline content, such as airfares, routes, and seat availability, reach passengers through websites and travel agencies.
To the question "Do you support NDC?", only 17% answered positively compared to 20% opting for "no".
The majority, some 63% of respondents, said they still were not informed enough to make a decision.
The same question was asked by the organisers of the Business Travel Show in 2013. The yes votes then reached 13%, 19% for no and 68% saying they needed more information to make decision.
Event director David Chapple says:
"NDC has been on the news agenda for at least 18 months and we’re just months away from seeing the first airlines implementing NDC standards, and yet nearly two thirds of European business travel managers still don’t feel informed enough about NDC, what it is and how it will affect them, to decide whether they are for or against it."
The most remarkable aspect of the survey is that it comes almost a year since Travelport eased back on its earlier concerns over the project and has since been actively working with IATA, and a few months on from Amadeustalking up the NDC-connection of its planned merchandising system.
There has been peace in the valley, so to speak, for quite some time, yet those at the sharp end of the business travel sector still have either a number of concerns or have yet to understand the implications and process around NDC.
A few other tech questions from the survey:
Do you have a social media policy for travellers:
- Yes - 30%
- No - 62%
- No, but we plan to in the next 12 months - 7%
Are you using big data to help plan and manage your travel programmes?
- Yes - 19%
No - 50%
No, but we plan to in the next 12 months - 17%
I don't know - 14%
NB:Question mark airline via Shutterstock.