Latest tech trends in online travel business

The travel and tour industry is growing fast and is, in fact, amongst the most proliferating industries in the world currently. The best software development company in India, develops seamless online travel websites and apps for your travel businesses with the latest technologies. According to an estimate, the global contribution of the travel and tour industry is over US $ 7.6 trillion.


This highlights the fact that there is a vast scope for growth for online travel businesses due to the ever-increasing demand for the services from the tourists all over the world. Studies reveal above 57% of all travel reservations are made online. Whether it’s for lodging, flights, tours or other journey-related activities, travellers now have a perfect chance to review a great diversity of deals on the web and choose the ideal ones.


With technology being the very backbone of online travel booking industry it is very interesting to see how recent trends in technology have shaped and transformed the entire industry. Let us have a quick look at these trends seemingly gaining prominence posing a vast array of opportunities for the online travel industry in 2020.


Artificial Intelligence


The biggest benefits of Artificial Intelligence for online travel businesses is the use of Chatbots created using it. Chatbots exhibit top-notch ability to precisely and continuously sort through information and to deliver swift responses to the queries.


Chatbots are usually used in ‘dialog systems’ for numerous practical purposes including providing customer service and also for procuring necessary information for better service deliveries. In the tourism and hospitality sector, Chatbots are a revolution in transforming the entire travel booking services for customers.


Artificial intelligence is able to draw conclusions based on customer feedback and behaviour. It will permit the AI to provide advice on the development of business performance of a company and even shrewdly manage inventories. Besides, AI is able to learn from interactions, which means the more it works, the smarter it is.


Augmented Reality


Augmented reality, or AR, is a digital technology, which makes changes to a person’s perception of their physical surroundings, when viewed through a particular device. The technology has similarities with virtual reality, but AR does not replace the real-world environment, but augments it by overlaying digital components.


The main advantage of the AR technology in travel and tourism is it’s being relatively inexpensive, especially for the users. Thus having only a special app enabled tablet or a smartphone with active internet connection, a traveler can look out for more information about the location, or a landmark in real time. This possibility of getting facts right on the go lets the travel industry professionals to augment their clients’ experience.


Another interesting use of AR is in relation to beacons technology, which works through Bluetooth. This specific technology is useful within the travel and tourism industry, for the reason that it allows businesses and marketers to send push notifications or enable certain functions when people enter a specific location.


Virtual Reality


Virtual reality seems to be one of the most promising technology travel trends. It can allow the travelers to digitally get into the virtual surroundings of the place he is just going to visit, be it a hotel or a tourist hotspot. Online travel businesses have adopted Virtual Reality technology to offer an effective way for marketers to give them a taste of what they can expect.


Travel customers frequently require lots of data before they book any hotel room. This may, for example, require them to go through descriptions, view the images, look at videos, read reviews of the customers or even seek opinions on social media. Through smart use of virtual reality, however, this process can be reduced significantly.


Many hotels and travel businesses are now offering virtual reality elements on their websites and apps even, allowing users to experience a digital form of a hotel room they wish to check in, or even take a look at one of the neighboring sigh-seeing attractions. This immersion empowers those in the travel industry to offer a kind of ‘try before you buy’ choice for the first time.


5G Networks


The fifth generation of wireless technology known as 5G, could bring far-reaching benefits to numerous sectors, including the travel industry. 5G networks, which experts estimate, will enable large quantities of data to travel at lightning speeds with delays undetectable to humans.


The network will be high-bandwidth, implying vast amounts of data can be sent from one point to the other quickly, and low-latency, meaning it is empowered to transfer data without any delay.


5G according to experts, will unquestionably have an impact on the travel industry at not just consumer-facing level but also at the operational level. The heightened connectivity possibilities offered by 5G present an opportunity to travel advisors and agents with a better way to connect with travelers during their trips. 5G networks experts says could be placed on cruise ships, enhancing operations and the onboard consumer experience.


Internet of Things


The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the rising assortment of connected devices. Industries from agriculture to entertainment could benefit from the possibilities IoT offers and more so for the online travel industry.


Airlines have been offering advance online check-in services several years ago, and this improvement brings into line the increasing adoption of smart speakers in the consumer market. You can also use the smart devices to track the status of flights or the amenities available during your journey.


IoT usage can also help travel businesses to facilitate travelers with car rental services with benefits both for the car rental agencies and tourists at the same time. For example, car rental firm Hertz employs Orange Business Services’ Datavenue internet of things (IoT) service into its 24/7 keyless rental services to maintain record of its vehicle fleet, curtailing its own expenses and delivering a more opportune experience for service users. With IoT enabled luggage trackers travelers can also track lost or stolen luggage by immediately notifying the owner with a notification on the app associated with it making travels more memorable than bitter experiences.


Therefore, considering the fact that online travel business showcases a vast range of opportunities coupled with the latest technological enhancements, look for the most reliable software development company to plunge into the online travel business now!

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