A growing or start-up travel business has all kinds of management challenges, and it’s often difficult to implement and integrate new technology on the fly amid rapid change. It takes more than snapping fingers or waving wands. The following steps provide a helpful guide, offering insights into how to navigate and simplify what can be a complex selection and implementation process:
1. Clearly define objectives. Understanding the travel reservation cycle and processes is key. Establishing clear objectives is paramount in guiding the selection and implementation journey. Clearly articulate what you aim to achieve with the new system, ensuring alignment with your overall business goals and strategies. In simple terms, make a list!
2. Select the appropriate solution. Recognize that not all Travel CRM & Back-Office systems are identical, so thorough research is imperative. Explore multiple options to identify the solution that best aligns with your specific business needs. Make sure to go with a solution that includes pre- and post-reservation functionality. Select a system that takes care of Booking Consolidation, GDS/Booking Engine integration, Documents, Payment Management, Reporting, Accounting & Finance, Statutory Compliance (ATOL/ASTA/IATA/ABTA)…to name a few. The last thing you want is having to log-in to multiple software tools to handle tasks that can actually be done a single platform.
3. Document and map existing processes. Before integrating your operations into the new, cloud-based system, meticulously document all current business processes. This step allows for a digital mapping of these processes within the system, offering a clear overview and highlighting areas of redundancy or inefficiency for the tool to address.
4. Customize and configure. While many travel management systems come with standard features, manual configuration is often necessary to tailor the system to your unique business requirements and booking processes. Customizations may include workflows, report templates, user access levels and the utilization of key modules.
5. Execute data migration. Transferring relevant data from existing systems to the cloud solution is a complex process involving data cleaning, validation and ensuring integrity. Despite its intricacies, this step is crucial for consolidating all your data in one place for streamlined processing and storage.
6. Deliver comprehensive training. The effectiveness of a travel software solution hinges on the proficiency of its users. Ensure thorough training for every team member, from management to front-line employees.
About Portway Systems:
Portway Systems is a rapidly expanding travel technology company based in Birmingham, UK. Specializing in Mid & Back-Office, Reservations, ERP, and Business Management solutions for small-to-large travel businesses across the UK & Ireland, USA, EMEA, Portway Systems is committed to delivering cutting-edge solutions to meet the evolving needs of the travel sector.
For more information about Portway Systems and its suite of products, visit www.portwaysystems.com
