Thomas Cook is finally preparing to switch off legacy technology Viewdata as it moves agents over to a trade web-based trade portal.
Katrina Latimer, trade partnerships manager at Cook, told delegates at the Hays Independence Group conference in Marbella, Spain, that Viewdata is being turned off.
“We will be very soon switching off Viewdata,” she said. “We have threatened it for years but we have served notice that it will be happening.”
Thomas Cook has enhanced the functionality on its trade portal so that everything agents can do on live chat can be done on the platform.
It has also produced a training video, uploaded information on its closed user group Facebook page and has been holding webinars.
Latimer said: “The difference is Viewdata is basically a flight-based return delivery. Thomas Cook Trade is a package delivery, it shows videos, visual and photo galleries.”
Latimer said the system also makes it easier to add ancillaries like seat reservations as it includes a seat map in the booking flow.
Latimer did not give a specific date for when Viewdata would be switched off but said it was important that agents were prepared by familiarising themselves with the new trade platform.