TRAVEL technology experts have slammed the industry for failing to invest in developing the industry’s technology infrastructure.
Equinus partner Mike Cogan claimed the travel industry lacked “money, vision and guts” to spend on technology.
Dolphin Dynamics president Roberto Da Re agreed: “Travel has not been good at innovating; other industries have adopted new technologies better.”
And Cogan said the situation would worsen as the industry continues to fragment, with the directional selling of the larger companies meaning they are no longer interested in improving the supplier distribution chain.
“TUI is starting to invest in technology,” he said. “However, the industry as a whole will no longer see the benefit of that investment.”
Cogan also criticised the little technology investment there is as being “focused on sales and never on the benefit of the suppliers”.
Exodus Systems managing director Warren Kinny claimed this lack of investment has led to the “sales experience being overlooked”.
He argued online sites are “a buying experience and not a sales experience”, claiming the online agencies have a long way to go to replicate the service of a good high-street travel agent.