NDC is a feature-rich way for airlines to share their product offering in their indirect distribution channels with more efficiency, flexibility and more relevant information for the traveler. It’s transforming the way the travel industry sells and buys flight related products.
NDC is a feature-rich way for airlines to share their product offering in their indirect distribution channels with more efficiency, flexibility and more relevant information for the traveler. It’s transforming the way the travel industry sells and buys flight related products. Corporations, business travel agencies and corporate travelers can all access this type of content throughAmadeus cytric Travel & Expense. This way, business travelers can reap the benefits of more exclusive and personalized offers from airlines.
Let’s see how corporations can leverage NDC to offer their business travelers the best solution:
Offers for business travelers that best fit their needs
NDCopens up a world of opportunities to make it easier for airlines to offer corporations the products and services that are just right for them and their travelers. For example, as a tall business traveler, wouldn’t it be nice if the airline offer already included a seat with extra leg space? Or as a corporation travel manager, the airline could negotiate bundles for certain groups of travelers that include lounge access and fast boarding. This would mean employees don’t have to book, and expense it separately. This increased level of personalization can be based on travelers’ preferences, historical and real-time data, or the context.
It’s important however that all of this new content does not come at the cost of other functionalities such as the ability to compare fares, servicing levels, or a higher cost. At Amadeus, our objective is to bring content via NDC into our self-booking and expense tool seamlessly so that the corporate traveler can easily compare flights and book the most suitable option. We’re making sure that all content relevant to the corporate travel programs, such as personalized and bundled airline offers, are available for corporations via NDC. Hence, no matter the content type or the source, corporations and their business travelers have access to the broadest range of content, all in one place. This, of course, without losing any of the existing functionalities.
Corporations using the Amadeus self-booking and expense tool can benefit from content via NDC for an increasing number of airlines as we are actively engaging with many carriers, including American Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air France-KLM, IAG (British Airlines, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus), and more. We are committed to making the integration of this content as efficient for the corporation, its travelers and its travel agency as possible.
NDC, or non-NDC, via any device
NDC brings a new flow to the industry based on shop, order and pay. But for corporations there is no need to worry. We’ve integrated all types of content into the same search and booking flow within our self-booking and expense tool. This means travelers can find NDC content, alongside non-NDC content as well as view and book seats and ancillaries. They can also book NDC content while maintaining the same approval flow as for other content. This means as business traveler, you can keep booking in the same way you've always done, via desktop or a mobile device.
End-to-end integration with the corporation’s travel agency, so travelers are assured of the highest level of service
Arguably, the need for efficient servicing, either by the traveler or through a travel agency, has never been greater than in current times. Therefore, we’re putting extra focus on servicing and ensuring any corporate traveler booking a trip via NDC can easily pick up the phone or drop a line to their travel agent to receive the same level of support as always. Amadeus-connected travel agencies can easily service NDC bookings from their corporate customers through Amadeus Selling Platform Connect.
This ensures travelers can not only shop and book NDC-piped content but also make any changes later. Of course, all in line with their corporate policy. This includes changes, refunds and cancellations, as with any other type of booking. It ensures a good experience for the traveler as well as allows corporations to meet their duty of care towards their employees.
Corporate travel managers can easily apply filters and define approval flows in line with their corporate travel policy
With Amadeus, travel managers have visibility on the total cost of travel for offers via NDC, including those items that help them define granular policies. For example, by applying filters, the focus would be on the bundles and no longer on the unbundled travel items such as bags or class. Also, since the offers would be based on traveler categories instead of travel items, this could change the way policies are registered. This means travel managers can work with airlines to really narrow down on what they want, and sometimes more importantly what they don’t want, to ensure they have the right content that fits within their corporate policy.
Scalable and easy to use solutions for both the travel manager and the business traveler
Amadeus has been actively involved in NDC since its inception. But NDC is not an end goal. It’s the foundation for a broader industry vision toward other initiatives such as ONE Order, Dynamic Offers or One Identity.
But what really matters is that for corporations, we take care of the complexities of integration, so travel managers and business travelers can search, book and manage different airlines’ NDC and other content in the same and efficient way. With this, corporations are more likely to adopt NDC and corporate travelers are more likely to book these new airline offers. Most recently, we announced the successful creation of ourfirst-ever NDC transaction in production via the Amadeus travel and expense booking tool for American Airlines
At Amadeus, we’re committed to be a stable and innovative technology provider that can deliver end-to-end integration with the performance, scalability, market reach, and global support in line with airlines’, travel sellers’ and corporations’ strategic objectives.
We are inviting corporations to join theNDC journey now. So, everyone can start benefiting from the opportunities that modern retailing brings.
This is the value that only Amadeus can offer today. We are committed to making NDC work across the industry together with our customers and rebuild travel for the future.
So, are you ready for a new world of possibilities? Are you ready to drive NDC forward with us?
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