Trends in digital transformation are having a significant influence on a variety of industries, including healthcare,eCommerce consulting services, IT Solutions for the Education Industry, IT Solutions for media industry, IT Consultants for real estate, IT Solutions for Travel Industry, and many more. The digital disruption that touched practically every part of the travel and tourism sectors forced significant adjustments, making them the bold early adopters of digital transformation. The travel business is no exception.
Although information and transactions are heavily used in the travel industry at every level of the value chain, people still look up information before traveling, read reviews, book hotels and tickets, and even ask for virtual tours of possible destinations.
Without a doubt, digital transformation is a permanent trend. However, it only makes sense when one pays attention to, comprehends, and consistently provides consumers with novel experiences. Businesses must adopt IT Solutions digital strategies if they want to remain competitive and meet the expectations of their constantly expanding customer base. This is not an optional process.
What Are The Top 7 Digital Transformation Trends In The Travel Industry?
1. Personalization As A Crucial Element Of Your Travel Business
With cutting-edge technology like big data and cloud computing, tailoring deals and offers to client preferences is a piece of cake. Personalization is often a byword for achievement. Micro trips, for instance, are the ideal illustration of customization since they provide less stressful itineraries and are centered on a specific interest. Travel firms may now greatly raise the overall level of their tailored offerings by utilizing big data that helps to provide insightful information about the habits of travelers (for example, favorite locations, airline preferences, and snack preferences).
Mobile applications, on the other hand, send out customized emails to travelers to keep them interested and up to date on the most recent developments in the travel business. Future predictions for the travel sector indicate that personalization will become even more important as the focus of the digital transformation strategy shifts to improving user experience through the delivery of pertinent information and content.
2. Cognitive Computing Is Not A Science Fiction Anymore!
It's not just a weird dream from your favorite movie to describe your ideal vacation preferences and receive specific recommendations based on your prior travel habits! We're getting to the point where a computer would arrange your complete trip—including airfare and lodging—based only on the characteristics of your profile and your prior experiences.
These stages will most certainly become feasible in the near future thanks to cognitive computing, a ground-breaking self-learning system that uses speech recognition, data mining, and natural language processing to mimic a human brain. Still difficult to accept? You only need to ask Siri about the weather in your area to know that we already have a form of cognitive computing in the works.
3. Global Mobile Presence
According to Criteo's Travel Flash Report, more than one-third of people use mobile devices to book hotels. For many consumers, free mobile connectivity—including 4G and Wi-Fi—is a must. Most hotels, eateries, and airports now have internet access. The technology goes even further: some chains are now providing their customers with tablets as a service throughout their hotel stay. As a result, the Casual Hoteles chain provides free Mobile Pack service to clients who make direct internet bookings. This service comes with a smartphone with a Wi-Fi connection, a portable battery, and a selfie stick.
Mobile connectivity changes from being a luxury to a strict must. Customers anticipate a seamless mobile travel experience, from planning to the actual trip, while they are staying in a chosen hotel, through the post-trip special offers.
4. AI, Chatbots, And IoT Integration
Today, vast amounts of information are made available through AI-powered applications and technology, allowing visitors to access it whenever they want from any device. Furthermore, customers may use voice-activated chatbots to open the curtains, set the alarm, or place food orders without ever speaking to a live person. For instance, Marriott has been utilizing chatbots with AI capabilities at over 5,000 hotels to do tasks like changing reservations, checking account balances, and redeeming coupons.
Given that the Internet of Things (IoT) is used to link a variety of devices, it seems reasonable that the travel sector would start using that data to enhance the client experience. The more information they have about their visitors, the better they are able to meet their demands. If IoT data indicates that a client has been returning to a resort annually for the past two years, the resort may automatically send the consumer a message asking if they would want to make another reservation this year.
5. Focus On Data
Today's digital revolution has data as its actual protagonist. Large volumes of data are collected and stored by the travel industry. They gather information such as customer data, flight trajectories, and transactions at each stop along the way. Making better judgments, learning more about consumers and competition, enhancing the customer experience, and boosting revenue are all benefits of data utilization.
When used appropriately, this data may show which services are most and least popular with clients. Hotels must also understand how to sell the appropriate product to the right consumer at the right time in order to maximize financial returns. To better estimate and anticipate demand, internal data (such as historical occupancy rates, room income, and current reservations) can be linked with external data (such as knowledge of nearby events, flights, and school vacations).
6. Reputation
Instant booking allows visitors to quickly share their comments on Facebook, Instagram, and TripAdvisor... Because of this, technology has forced hotels and restaurants to put even more emphasis on offering top-notch customer service. Anyone who wants a great review must be mindful of the level of service they provide to clients. While providing a better customer experience is the ultimate aim, it is crucial to realize that you must provide the "correct" customer experience to the "right" individuals.
7. Virtual Reality
Visitors may visit a hotel or tourist attraction without ever leaving their home room by using virtual reality. The objective is to provide a sneak peek at what visitors might expect. Although it isn't being done on a large scale just yet, several big operators are giving visitors the possibility to experience at least a portion of their trip—offering a fantastic alternative to obtain an amazing pre-experience for those planning a vacation to a far-off location.
Conclusion
Travelers and those working in the sector may notice notable and beneficial changes as a result of digital transformation strategy and other company transformations. These travel software developments might permanently affect how individuals handle their trip-related demands. It is quite evident that tourist businesses would lose their competitive advantage and become outdated if they do not go through a digital transformation process.
The moment has come to accept change and make use of modern technology. in favor of a better, more unified world. Here, now. Now. The world may be changed by your business!
