The dynamic packaging system a travel agent chooses depends very much on what they are looking to sell and to whom.
There are a range of technology suppliers out there offering complete systems with integrated content from bed banks, flight suppliers, transfer and excursion companies.
Holiday Taxis sales and marketing director Russell Parr said: “All you need is one decent desktop tool which sources multiple flights, hotels and ancillary product and presents you with a complete list and a good back-office system to handle administration.”
He added that these systems improve customer experience and increase efficiency for the agent.
However, technology requires investment and some agents choose to start with a powerful computer, a broadband connection and a couple of internet-based suppliers.
Traveltek managing director Kenny Picken believes many agents don’t have systems but are putting packages together manually.
“Agents might not yet have decided a system is affordable or might not have the technical ability. Lots of people go and look for a fare and then go onto an accommodation provider. To me, that is manually packaging.”
He added that some Traveltek customers use the system on their consumer website, but not within their shops.
“We have challenged a few agents on this and run trials to see whether the system or agent is faster and, on every occasion, we win.”
Picken admitted however that systems might not cover every single route and that this is where an agent’s expertise is vital.