The travel industry has always been thriving on technological advancement. However, some tech pops up in the real world more while other solutions are nowhere to be seen. For instance, under the hood of a modern marketing strategy, there is nothing but technology.
Yet, since it remains invisible, the importance of technology in the tourism sector remains elusive to many people, especially in tourism marketing. Technology is not strictly reserved for tourism marketing. It found various use cases transforming global tourism as we used to know it and even creating new opportunities such as sustainable tourism.
Technology in the tourism industry profoundly penetrates to adjust every activity in the market. Which, consists of both opportunities and challenges to travel and hospitality business in reaching their customers.
Technology is so important in tourism that you can easily say that there would be no modern tourism without it.
Technology introduced automation to remove redundant tasks. With redundant tasks gone, the industry can focus on more important things. Plus, they are not overworked, leading to fewer errors across the board.
Then we have the data that technology gives industry access to these days. Instead of basing decisions on a hunch, they can use data to create efficient strategies. In other words, technology has enabled tourism to benefit from data-driven marketing—other big data solutions leverage data to unlock hidden hotel booking profits.
Marketing based on cutting-edge technologies resonates perfectly well with the current generation. Millennials and Gen Y make the most of the traveler audience, and they are both comfortable around technology.
Finally, technology enables everyone in the tourism sector to leverage the most versatile resource available today — the Internet. There are countless advertising opportunities online, and they are all enabled by technology.
In the travel industry, there are around 7 types of software:
Travel portals
These apps bring value to businesses and customers with features like booking management, revenue management, and layered access for the travel agency.
Booking software
Digitize your booking process with a self-service platform. Let customers book flights, accommodation, and cars from one place with third-party integrations.
Travel agent software
This software makes the life of travel agents easier allowing them to keep records of all accounts, coordinate actions, communicate with customers, and much more.
Hotel management software
This software helps leverage the fulfillment of routine hotel tasks. Keep track of hotel rooms condition, household equipment, bedding sets, and much more.
Document management systems
It’s vital to establish centralized control over files, and a document management system can collect, organize, store and provide the necessary access rights to files.
Payment management systems
Another important form of travel tech is the ability to accept contactless payments. This will allow travel companies to process payments much more quickly, including in situations where customers do not have access to cash, or their credit or debit card. It can also enhance the customer experience because it is a time saver. The availability of contactless payments started as a convenience, but it has emerged as a key part of marketing in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With travelers nervous about the spread of the virus, many are reluctant to handle cash. Using contactless payments as much as possible can also protect your staff.
CRMs for hotels
Optimize customer relationships, establish loyalty programs, and surveys, collect customer feedback and make the most out of data analysis using hotel CRMs.
Ultimately, the goals or motivations behind implementing travel technology include automating travel and related processes, saving time, reducing costs, and creating a more seamless travel experience for consumers. Technology can be deployed to enhance the customer experience before, during, and after the trip itself.
