Holiday quotes system rolled out to the trade following agency trial

A holiday quotes system is being rolled out to the trade after a successful trial with a homeworking agency.

 

Smart Quote, developed by One Smart System, has been piloted by One Travel Club since its soft-launch in April this year.

 

The system – hailed a ‘game-changer’ in agent feedback - aims to offer faster turnaround times for agents to produce professional package holiday quotes to speed up sales conversions.

 

It gathers prices, booking details and hotel and destination images from a supplier into one email, personalised under the agent’s name and including a payment link for customers, within 20 to 30 seconds.

 

Already 1,500 agents are licenced to use the system in the UK – including all 120 One Travel Club homeworkers who receive it as part of their joining package – ahead of the official launch date on November 1.

 

Smart Quote business development manager Chris Smith said conversations with agencies were ongoing and he is hopeful the system will be recommended further via word of mouth.

 

He said agent feedback already suggested the system was proving a “game-changer”.

 

He said: “We feel there is a massive gap in the market for this among homeworkers and high-street agents and we want to roll it out across the trade to more agents.

 

“We are already having conversations with agencies and have run it as a trial through One Travel Club. We have been improving it since then.

 

“Agents love it because it saves the time.”

 

Smith said many agents were time-poor and keen to find ways to reduce admin levels and grow their business, but many continued to email quotes to customers manually and could not afford expensive quote systems. The system aims to help companies streamline their quote process, he added.

 

One Travel Club finance director Greg Barratt said the group’s homeworkers had welcomed the system’s quote turnaround time and affordability.

 

He said: “When you look at the way the industry is going, with more and more homeworkers, they cannot afford thousands [of pounds] for new systems. They want something quick and reliable to help them to convert sales.

 

“Agents reach a ceiling [on growth] but if they can minimise conversion times, they can grow. We can now produce quotes in under 30 seconds.”

 

Suppliers already live on the system include Jet2holidays; easyJet holidays; Tui; and Gold Medal; and Expedia while there is also a cruise feed. Smith added: “We want as many suppliers as possible."

 

The company charges a monthly fee for the system which varies depending on booking volumes. It is offering free 30-day trials for agents while it is offering suppliers which sign up the chance to “gift” the technology to their top-performing agents for a free trial.

 

As well as the UK, the company is poised to launch the system in the US for a competitive monthly fee next year.

 

It is anticipated the system will be used by US agents to book cruises and already the company has a commitment for 1,000 licences in the US.

 

The company also hopes to develop the system further so that it can produce quotes for DIY packages, including dynamic cruise packages, with the ultimate aim of having 5,000 to 10,000 licenced users in total.