Leeder said both products were being aimed at new customers and marketing would start in a few weeks. Operators will have to have Internet access to use the new system.
Although the products use current Embarque technology, they will be adapted in three months time when the web-browser product is rolled out. Profiling is expected to particularly benefit the specialist operators who would use these systems.
TOUR operator technology supplier Metafour is developing a web-browser based version of its reservation and back-office system Embarque.
The browser-based version of Embarque will be translated into a Intranet product which will focus on customer profiling. It will allow operators to store and access in-depth information quickly without even having to leave the reservation application.
The London-based supplier has set up a development house in Bangladesh to work on the new product.
Metafour sales and marketing manager Brian Leeder said: “The product will allow satellite offices to get full access to the database at HQ but a whole lot of other information besides.
“The key to selling travel in the future is through database mining of customer profile information.
“If you can easily get that profile information, then you can use it in marketing to direct target mailings and create more custom.
“Embarque is cost-effective to run so we can afford to spend money on development to adapt it to changing needs like profiling.
Larger tour operator technology suppliers are unable to adapt their product so quickly because the helpdesk and other costs are so high, claimed Leeder.
“The little companies are becoming the ones tour operators should be looking to for their technology.”
Metafour is currently launching Embarque Ski and Embarque inbound, for ski operators and inbound operators respectively.
Leeder said both products were being aimed at new customers and marketing would start in a few weeks. Operators will have to have Internet access to use the new system.
Although the products use current Embarque technology, they will be adapted in three months time when the web-browser product is rolled out. Profiling is expected to particularly benefit the specialist operators who would use these systems.