Consumers are changing the way they research and book their travel, driven largely by the digital revolution. German multinational software corporation SAP has a solution to meet this shift in buying habits – a new release of its SAP Hybris Commerce travel accelerator.
The travel-specific solution helps airlines to personalise offers and deliver a cohesive experience across both digital and physical touch points.
Compliant with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard, the travel accelerator allows airlines to maintain consistent pricing and promotions across channels such as web, mobile kiosk, sales desk, on-board/in-flight, contact centre and distribution
Airlines can determine which products they want to offer, to whom and are offered to whom and at what price based on their current activity, booking history, loyalty status and sales channel
Products, fares, flight ancillaries like extra leg room and partner products are stored individually in a central catalogue, allowing airlines to create attractive merchandising and pricing options, said SAP.
The solution enables airlines to determine which products to offer such as extra leg room (Image credit: hxdyl/iStock)
Additional features for airlines with the travel accelerator’s enhancement:
- Deliver market-leading retail commerce capabilities on industry-standard airline reservation systems
- Improve conversion rates by converting website visitors into customers who complete a purchase with fully responsive storefront and context-based content management
- Create bundles and promotional offers across customer segments and channels
- Implement direct-connect initiatives to agencies and business-to-business partners by using IATA’s NDC standard
- Combine ATPCO fares with dynamic fares and flight ancillaries managed directly in the SAP Hybris Commerce solution
- Dynamically bundle air content with accommodation to create single-price packages and offers
“With the booking process no longer linear, airlines who rely on indirect distribution for sales will face major challenges when competing in a digital world that demands a ‘retail-centric’ approach,” said Matthias Goehler, SAP Hybris’ senior vice president and head of industry solutions.
The travel accelerator for SAP Hybris Commerce, which offers advanced travel retailing and merchandising capabilities, can meet current business demands and help drive business growth, he added
Yanik Hoyles, director of new distribution capability programme, IATA noted that the NDC standard “transforms the way air travel is sold through the travel agent channel by addressing today’s distribution limitations.”
NDC is a travel industry–supported programme launched by IATA for the development and market adoption of a new XML- based data transmission standard. The new standard makes it possible for airlines to close the gap between what is available on their own websites and what travel agents have access to through their systems. This enables easy access to all of an airline’s offerings in the travel agent channel, in addition to personalising offers through airline products such as a special meal option.
• Featured image credit: Zentangle/iStock
