IN A HYPER CONNECTED WORLD, CONVENIENT MOBILE SOLUTIONS ARE GRADUALLY BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT.
WHAT ARE GDS DOING TO ACCLIMATISE TO THE CHANGING DEMANDS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY?
Perhaps one of the most essential tools for any travel agent, GDS are a core element of the tourism industry, enabling agents to easily and efficaciously compare flights, hotels, rail tickets as well as car rental and a range of ancillary services in a digital one-stop shop.
"It is our most important tool in our day-to-day operations," explained Iris Sabellani Vasilevska, travel manager, Al Arabi Travel Agency, elaborating that dependence on the commerce platforms means that agents have high expectations in terms of accuracy, availability data as well as minimal downtime.
Diana Almalakh, director, ebusiness, e-payment and fraud prevention, Royal Jordanian Airlines, highlighted the invaluable role that the systems play for airlines, providing a crucial link between carriers and agents as well as widening distribution of direct sales and services, albeit with significant financial implications.
However, even with the associated cost, GDS are widely regarded as indispensible.
Almalakh clarified, "[GDS allow airlines to] seize all available sales opportunities on a worldwide scale, to maximise their passenger market share and profits."
ON THE GO
One of the biggest challenges facing GDS is the unremitting and rapid advancement of both the technology and travel industries.
In order for GDS to maintain their market position, remain relevant and meet customers' expectations, Daniel Naoumovitch, CEO, Sabre Travel Network Middle East highlighted, "[Not only do we] have to keep pace with the rate of evolution, but we have to constantly be ahead of it."
With the ever growing use of mobile technology throughout business and pleasure, it is a platform no longer considered niche in the world of travel. As Naoumovitch noted, mobile bookings account for one in five of all travel reservations, a figure that rises to 29 percent amongst millennials, a clear indicator of what is around the corner.
"The future path of the travel industry is undeniable through technology, which is turning ever more mobile centric [...]," corroborated Rabih Saab, managing director, Travelport, adding that mobile travel sales in the UAE skyrocketed 67 percent in 2015 to AED4.7 billion (USD1.3 billion) and is forecasted to rise to AED22.2 billion (USD6 billion) in 2020, underlining the potential within the mobile market.
Mobile solutions are not simply an added extra, but for travel agents serving business travellers in particular absolutely essential.
Vasilevska expanded, "With our clients predominantly [being] corporate travellers, their schedules change according to their work demands and it is imperative for us to be able to assist them when necessary.
Mobile technology is very important as it gives us access to GDS wherever and whenever."
In 2016, Sabre heavily invested in developing innovative technology, including Sabre Traveller Experience Platform, which Naoumovitch describes as a mobile offering that brings together the critical aspects of travel management into a single mobile app.
With personalisation at the forefront of many travellers trips, Naoumovitch expanded that Sabre's mobile solutions also facilitate this, notably TripCase, which enables travel companies to deliver enhanced customer service through offering increased personalisation.
Meanwhile, Travelport has also advanced its mobile services, allowing clients to interact directly with travellers which, as Saab noted, is becoming increasingly significant in this hyper connected society.
By offering solutions such as Travelport ViewTrip, a mobile itinerary management tool, or MTT-powered mobile applications for Etihad, Saab elucidated, "[...] we are enabling our customers to remain relevant and add value in an increasingly complicated world."
