Future of Technology in the Travel Industry

by David Jones Digital Marketor

So far, the impact of the technological breakthrough has been so pervasive in our lives that we can barely eye the prospects for new opportunities. The same developments have paved the way for the travel industry, shaping the way we travel and promising an even more exciting experience in the years to come. This has proven to be extremely important, especially in the world of business travel.

More and more tour companies have recognized the benefits of becoming one with technology. So much so that we can experience a significant paradigm shift in conducting business travel. It has helped not only maximize productivity, but also improve communication, customer travel, business speed, marketing, and revenue. And TMCs that can’t adapt to this change will most certainly run the risk of falling behind their competitors.

Why technology matters

It goes without saying, but the data is extremely valuable to corporate travel managers. If you don’t have accurate and timely data in your hands, you could run the risk of struggling to improve your C-suite and sourcing strategy. Therefore, you need to provide the right data to justify your purchasing decisions and make the right decisions for your organization.

To ensure the success of your travel brand, you need to address these pain points. Our experts here, on board 7, will not only help you identify and quantify the data you need, but can also save you valuable time in the process by demonstrating the value the program has brought to the table.

So what are the key technology trends that will continue to impact the travel industry? Read on to find out: -

Artificial Intelligence

One of the most obvious uses of artificial intelligence in the travel industry is to increase customer travel. Post this on twitter!

Tools like chatbots are able to respond to customer questions and resolve them in a matter of seconds, which can significantly improve customer interactions. In addition, artificial intelligence can scan millions of data to provide seamless personalization and personalized recommendations, all of which can be really important to hotel owners.

Artificial intelligence not only saves businesses time and money, but also avoids human error and allows you to perform multiple tasks at a given moment.

Voice recognition

Voice recognition is fast becoming one of the hottest trends in the travel industry. ComScore reports that by 2020, 50% of online searches will be voice-based. Post this on twitter! Therefore, more and more tour companies are striving to provide their travelers with the same voice-based search experience as at home.

Google has introduced a voice-based search travel platform called “Google Flight,” which works on smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers through Google Assistant. In addition, services like App in the air have introduced the AR booking experience with voice search, which is also catching up with the market.

Hotels like Best Western and Marriott use voice-based search, while in-flight entertainment provider Spafax allows travelers to ask Alex about their upcoming movies through their profile platform. Interaction with voice can make a difference by allowing TMCs to create a more natural booking experience without having to scroll through feeds or use keyboards at all.

Internet of Things

It is exciting to see that the IoT will play an important role in shaping the future of the travel and tourism industry. For example, IoT can be used by hotel rooms to provide their customers with a device that can control everything from lights, air conditioning and heating in one place. Tweet This! Meanwhile, at airports, baggage can be enabled with sensors, so passengers will be alerted when their bags arrive.

Augmented reality

Despite its resemblance to virtual reality, augmented reality means enriching its environment, not replacing it. Travel usually depends heavily on thorough research, as travelers need a lot of information before they arrive. Augmented reality can ensure that this information is easily accessible to them at all times.

For example, The Hub Hotel from the Premier Inn features interactive AR elements with wall maps. So when someone looks at their smartphone or tablet, wall maps show more information about some local points of interest.

Great data

One way for travel brands to use big data is to gather information and make specific changes to their offerings. An analysis of current business performance allows hotels to better predict the level of demand for a given season. For example, hotel owners can use big data to manage revenue, taking into account past occupancy and other past trends. This not only helps in forecasting demand, but also optimizes their pricing and promotion strategies.

What drives this direction toward an automated approach?

One of the main reasons for automating the travel and tourism industry is cost control. At a deeper level, automating trade and performance tracking allows TMCs to identify sales opportunities more quickly than a human analyst. This not only increases revenue, but also saves valuable time, resulting in a better customer experience with minimal friction.

Merchandising

Trade plays an important role in automating the travel industry. Travel brands have begun automating booking tracking, allowing instant identification when the right trading opportunity occurs. By sending relevant promotional offers to travelers, TMCs can use traditional merchandise trading to avoid costs and save costs.

Customize routes

In 2016, the GBTA reported that 64% of business travelers check their route details via smartphones or tablets on a daily basis. Travel brands have increasingly automated their processes so travelers can enjoy a seamless experience from start to finish. One good example is sending consolidated audio and travel documents directly to the traveler’s device to save time and avoid the need to collect travel information and physical documents. In addition, tour operators can customize delays and cancellation alerts, security and traffic incidents, and more. Its rules too.

In conclusion

Some of these trends may still find their feet, but there is no doubt that the travel industry will be shaken in a few years. Although the probability of realization of the envisaged future depends on some factors, such as:

The need of the population and how quickly users apply these trends

How well TMCs can take advantage of audio technology

Fortunately, the number of users is growing rapidly due to the low access barrier. Almost all smartphones are already equipped with a voice recognition system, however, confidentiality and data security are big problems. The technical industry needs to overcome this hurdle if voice search comes to the fore in the market.

The TMCs of the future are likely to be much more thorough in this respect and will be able to move from a fair utility to a customer-centric travel management platform. To name a few, travel brands like Skyscanner, Expedia and Priceline are able to build on business algorithms, machine learning, APIs and big data. So not just for commercial reasons, but to survive the competitive market and stay ahead of the curve.