The travel industry has a significant role in a country’s economy. It has a crucial contribution to the growth and development of the country. But the industry has faced a top challenge during the COVID19 pandemic. These challenges have enabled the industry to implement new trends.
The travel industry has always been at the forefront of using technology to enhance the experience of modern travellers, and technological advancement is one of the most crucial components of the efforts being taken to rebuild and revive the industry.
Several facilities like automation, contactless services, virtual experience, and the provision of real-time information are enhancing the scope of tourism. These initiatives are focusing on improving the overall customer experience and business growth.
Let us have a look at some tech trends that are reshaping the travel industry.
Cashless Payment:
Carrying a bundle of cash is really like a burden while travelling. You have a fear of theft or fear of missing somewhere. On top of that, you have to worry about the exact cash demanded by the cab driver, while travelling.
Thanks to digital Advancement.
The evolution of Cashless transactions has almost removed the worries of people about payment. Cashless payment has emerged as the most convenient mode of transaction. It has not only enhanced the customer experience but will also ensure a safe mode of transaction. Looking at the demand for this payment system several travel brands have switched to the cashless mode of transactions to ensure safety for their employees as well as customers. Several hotels, restaurants and cabs are employing QR codes that can be scanned easily with mobile devices.
Now every payment can be done online, from booking a hotel to a ticket. This mode of payment is gaining popularity and reshaping travel industry trends.
Touchless Service:
People got more aware after the COVID 19 pandemic, where social distancing and touching any object are top priorities.
After COVID19, pre-departure recreation at airports, such as shopping, Snacking on some food at a restaurant, or just catching up over a drink, was a problem for commercial air passengers. As a result, service providers are quickly deploying digital tools such as biometrics and artificial intelligence (AI), to deliver seamless service, with minimal human interaction all throughout the processes.
Probably these are not innovations, but we can say that the pandemic has accelerated their adoption across the travel industry.
Several service providers like airports and hotels have implemented their own technologies and processes to allow for contactless experiences. Since the pandemic Airports have been adding thermal cameras to monitor traveller temperature. It will automatically suspend the self-service check-in or bag drop process if it finds vital signs of illness in passengers. Even some airlines are offering a completely touchless web check-in experience. Not only Airlines, but even hotels are also offering customers touchless services. Hotels are installing several touchless items like in-room voice assistants, motion-activated sinks and touchless keys.
With technological advancement, the ability of touchless technology will become more advanced. This trend is slowly being implemented by several organisations and is expected to reshape the travel industry trends in the coming years.
Augmented reality(AR):
Over recent years, augmented reality (AR) is gaining popularity within the travel industry. It is because it enables hotels and other businesses operating in the particular field to enhance the physical environments to encourage customers to visit, including local sights.
Nowadays everyone is in the habit of using smartphones, even when they travel, so the step of adopting AR technology within the travel industry gives customers a better overall experience. Additionally, this gives hotels, resorts and other related businesses to provide customers more information on demand.
Some popular Hotels have made augmented reality compatible with the wall maps in their rooms. When it is viewed through a smartphone or tablet, the wall maps will provide extra information about some of the local places of interest. It serves as a kind of information tool for tourists.
Several companies within the travel industry are developing AR Apps that allow tourists to discover popular physical locations and tourist attractions spots.
The implementation of AR in the travel industry is a relatively recent development and is expected to widespread technology in this industry in the coming years.
Implementation of Robots:
Robotics technology is one of the most exciting forms of travel industry trends and it is constantly improving day by day. When restrictions were imposed due to the covid19 pandemic, running a business with minimum staff was quite challenging. In hotels and restaurants, serving customers with food and basic needs was a top challenge. Looking at these situations, organisations within the travel industry started implementing the use of robots.
Robots can potentially have a role in food preparation and food service within restaurants. They can be used in concierge-like roles, helping to greet guests when they arrive and provide information within a hotel. Even some hotels are involving them in cleaning and handling luggage.
In airports, robots can be used as weapons detectors. To make the waiting time of customers more productive, travel agents are using robots for pre-screening.
As with many other travel industry trends, the use of robots has increased in response to COVID, as they have the potential to reduce human to human contact.
Artificial Intelligence (AI):
This trend of AI implementation is gaining popularity in the travel industry as it enhances customer satisfaction and business performance.
Other than the use of robots, artificial intelligence is being used in several ways. The most frequent use of this technology within this industry is Chatbots.
AI is able to respond to the questions of customers and provide them with valuable information. As customers demand a faster response on online platforms, artificial intelligence allows businesses to deliver it to their customers quickly.
Several businesses within the travel industry are deploying AI to their applications as it saves time and money.
Internet of Things (IoT):
The Internet of Things (IoT), is one of the most exciting and emerging travel industry trends. It involves internet-based interconnectivity between every device by allowing them to both send and receive data.
IoT technology can be used in hotel rooms to enable customers to control more appliances or services through a centralised device that connects to everything from the lights, to the room heaters and air conditioning.
Even tourism based companies can use IoT to send location-specific information to tourists, which can enhance their experience during a trip. Messages can be sent to tourists by combining their smartphones with beacon technology or other sensors. They can be informed about the popular local store or spots to visit during walking tours around the city.
In airports, sensors can be installed on passengers’ luggage so that they will get an alert when it will pass by.
Enabling IoT in this industry gives a seamless travel experience.
Big Data:
“Hurry, Book your ticket to the Maldives now & get 50% off on booking a beachside Hotel”
You must have received such a type of message regarding the discount on hotel or flight booking once.
This is exactly how big data works for the travel industry.
At present, in the travel industry data is similar to life and almost every company has successfully implemented their own data collection techniques. One of the biggest benefits of using these data is to improve personalisation and to make adjustments to their offerings. Along with that, it allows them to analyse their business performance.
Hotel owners can use big data for their revenue management purpose and they can anticipate the level of demand. Accordingly, they can build their promotional strategy.
This is one of the most effective travel industry trends for business. If your business is within the travel industry and wants to implement big data then contact us.
The use of Mobile Apps:
We all are aware of the popularity of MobileApp at present. Apps have become a key facilitator for travellers worldwide. Nowadays people want to complete their travel expenses like- booking tickets, hotels to be done without any hectic. This is what mobile apps enable them. There are several apps available like MakeMyTrip and Goibibo among others, where travellers can access information on ticket prices, hotels, destinations, etc 26*7 and can choose the best options suitable to them. Not only this, it even gives booking facilities.
The use of MobileApps is reshaping the travel industry trend by delivering a unique customer experience. Currently, the maximum number of companies have their own mobile apps. This trend will remain growing in the coming days but is expected to provide more service in a single platform.
Conclusion:
These are some tech trends which are expected to rule the travel industry in the coming years. These emerging technologies are exciting for businesses related to the travel industry. Anyhow, to get exact benefits for the business as well as customers, these technologies need to be integrated with the right platform and analytics.
These emerging tech trends in the travel industry will also give travellers the confidence and control to travel efficiently. These travel industry trends will ensure easier, safer, and more seamless travel and will reshape the tourism sector.
If your business is within the travel industry and you want to implement some of those above technologies in your business then for sure you will not find a better option than Gloify.
Our end to end services will help you to implement these tech trends in your business. And top of that we will help you to grow your business with our strategy.