Expedia first launched in 1996 and Ebookers here in the UK in 1996. More than two decades have passed since then and the travel market has changed drastically.
A recent study in the UK showed that 80% of people always, frequently or occasionally book travel online using a website or mobile app. Would you shut your door to 80% of your potential customers?
Of those surveyed only 12.6% stated that they would never book online and would only ever choose to book at a traditional travel agency.
If your travel business is not online then you are potentially shutting off a huge segment of the market. Those customers who may know your brand or have booked with you in the past but now want the convenience to either book from home or at least perform some research online.
By not having an online platform of your own, you could push them elsewhere and directly into the arms of a competitor who will be more than willing to convert them as a client.
If you run a traditional travel then you’re potentially in an excellent position to offer your client an online option, as well as that personal touch that many customers still love.
Whilst the total number of bookings being made solely online is increasing at 80% this changes drastically when we look at revenue being generated. 48% of revenue generated in travel had some human interaction, if you’re travel company can adopt technology to help do both then your primed for great success in the current travel market.
The time has never been better to get your travel agency online. Using powerful APIs and cloud computing, the tools needed to bring traditional travel agencies online are now available at a fraction of the cost that they used to be.
In fact bringing your travel business online could be one of the most cost effective investments you make for your business. An investment that could give you access to customers all over the world and keep your shop doors open 24 hour a day and 7 days a week. All for a fixed monthly cost that would be a fraction of your monthly business costs.
If you’d like more information on how to increase your sales and profitability by using the power of cloud computing, you can get in touch with the team at SoftCloud in the UK.
Whether you’re looking for an Internet Booking Engine, B2B booking tool or call center solution we have the right solution for you.