Certain bottlenecks you as a travel agent face in the current age are those that you didn’t face back in the day – even as recently as 2019.
Studies show that in 2022, 68% of the annual global revenue in the travel and tourism sector has come from online bookings. The rapidly developing technology arena, coupled with young travellers’ endless urge to hunt for otherworldly experiences, puts a traditional agency’s business at stake.
It sure doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why travel platforms are becoming increasingly popular amongst travel agents who look to overcome similar challenges.
A travel booking platform can streamline your processes and put them in place. Did you know that a great travel booking platform can potentially double your revenue? Yes, and that is our goal here with this write-up.
We want to help you find that ultimate, friendly travel software to make your business earn the market share it deserves.
Before we jump into the features, let’s just run through how a travel reservation system works, and how it can make your day-to-day operations easy.
If your organisation already uses a travel management software, this would help you evaluate whether it’s worth the subscription.
What is a Travel Booking Software?
A travel booking platform or travel agency software is an application that helps agencies, leisure organisations, OTAs and tour operators easily book, manage, coordinate and deliver tours and experiences to individuals and groups through a uniquely developed technology solution.
How can a booking software make life easy?
Among its many benefits, the following are some of the key factors you should know;
- It reduces time spent on searching and grouping packages
- Reduces human error in quotes and costs
- It keeps your business open 24/7, 365 days
- Centralised billings and faster conversions
- Simplifies reservation for agents, thus increasing booking volume
- Provides sales insights for future campaigns and improvements
and more!
Personal preferences aside, here are the top features you should look for when selecting a travel booking software.
- Search and itinerary creation within minutes
A booking engine is a crucial element of a travel booking software. If you subscribe to a booking platform, this is something you’d definitely receive. But a great booking software does more than just searches and more than doing them in minutes.
Itinerary creation takes up most of your time, and it’s not always rewarding. When some inquirers don’t purchase from you, the time spent creating those itineraries goes to waste. That’s why it’s important to find a travel booking software that addresses your need to speed up complex itinerary creation and efficient searches.
- Booking engine branding (white labelling)
Is brand recognition one of your business goals for the new year? Then online is the best place to start. You will come across the concept of White Labelling when searching for a booking software, and that’s a feature you should look for;
White labelling allows you to brand the booking engine under your organisation. Now you may wonder why it’s something to look for when it doesn’t take much effort to offer such a feature. Well, many software providers don’t give this option, evidently showcasing that you’re using a third-party engine (indirectly promotes their brand), which may;
- Disclose the unique points of your booking engine
- Raise security concerns in the minds of the customer
That’s why it’s important to find an intuitive consumer-friendly travel agency software that offers white labelling capabilities.
- Safe payment portal and invoicing
Cyber threats are quite common nowadays, and your website and booking software could be vulnerable to hackers if it is not secured enough.
That’s why the booking software you’re using should have a strong firewall that can withstand any type of threat. How do you know whether a travel booking software is secure enough to process customer payments or safeguard confidential information? You can get in touch with an expert for assistance.
On a separate note, things go south for many online travel agents when invoicing procedures are not defined or consolidated. It may affect your revenue records, fail to provide financial insights and even be a hassle when quoting tours for customers.
- Third-party integrations
If you work with airlines, a GDS is your bread and butter, and the accompanying integrations, such as third-party APIs make the customer experience extra sweet.
A great travel agency software should be able to accommodate unlimited third-party integrations such as bed banks, attractions, tours and more.
As your business grows and acquires new services, your booking software should have the capability of scaling up in order to cater to the increasing volume of bookings.
Keep in mind that switching from one software to another takes time and effort, and some legacy systems make exporting data to a modern software almost impossible. So invest in a travel agency booking system that allows breathing space for your organisation.
- Documentation templates
When you’re sending travel documents and proof to your customers or partners, those documents, receipts, invoices and itineraries should carry your branding with clear correspondence and a professional outlook.
Some travel agent booking systems do not allow you to customise as you wish – but offer a single template for all their clients. It will not make your business stand out from your competitors. That’s why it’s important to find a technology solution that addresses the documentation feature.
- Multi-currency and language support
If you’re using a travel booking software that doesn’t support multiple currencies or languages, you’re surely missing out on many business opportunities globally. Especially when it comes to multiple language capability, your booking software can help you rank high in other regions across the globe that do not speak English or your native language.
- Intelligent selling capabilities
The newest revelation in business intelligence is intelligent sales. This feature goes somewhat beyond your regular travel booking software for businesses. Many software companies claim to have this feature integrated, but they may not live up to its full standards.
How to identify intelligent selling? It’s easy.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning always power Intelligent selling. Basic algorithm-run codes cannot offer a truly intelligent sales capability, and that’s because the actions are restricted to what is already built.
If you want to upgrade your regular booking software to something more sophisticated and versatile, intelligent selling capabilities are one important feature you should look for;
Conclusion
Every travel agency software and booking engine is different to the other. From its dashboard outlook to its features and capabilities, while some might prefer an easy user experience, some may look for higher capacity. Choosing the one that suits your business, work culture, and customer audience is very important. After all, you’re paying for it, so make sure you pick the right one. Good luck!
Want to learn more about booking engines for travel agents? Reach out to us anytime, and let’s discuss. Mail to [email protected]