TourConnect uses AI and chatbots to streamline manual operations, and cut costs, for travel trade
Dallas, TX – 25 March 2021 – TourConnect, the leading B2B platform for the travel industry, has introduced a suite of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools focused on cost savings for tour operators of all sizes. TourConnect-AI utilizes email add-ins and chatbots to drastically reduce the time it takes for operations teams to perform manual tasks such as cancelling bookings and processing closeouts.
TourConnect-AI is focused on addressing the manual tasks that slow operations teams down. The tools will focus on simple tasks to begin with, then evolve over time to handle more complex tasks. The launch of TourConnect-AI is highlighted by three products with several more planned for 2021. The first three tools are:
- Bookings-AI – process booking cancellations and reconcile bookings to invoices & payments
- Closeouts-AI – update inventory to reflect product closeouts/stopsells
- Offers-AI – publish special/tactical offers to market
TourConnect-AI can be used as an email add-in with Outlook365 and Gmail. In addition, TourConnect-AI will have a chatbot available within Slack and Microsoft Teams from 01 April 2021. Of course, TourConnect can integrate TourConnect-AI with other email platforms and chat services.
At present, TourConnect-AI is integrated with the leading booking system in the tourism industry, Tourplan. TourConnect-AI can also integrate with other booking systems, including those for hotels and tours/activities.
“There are very few travel tech companies serving the B2B portion of the travel industry, and even fewer using advanced technology, like AI,” said TourConnect’s founder, Michael Herrmann. “All uses of AI, so far, appear aimed at the traveller’s purchasing process. We feel there is a bigger opportunity, especially in the current environment, to cut costs by automating manual operations associated with bookings, accounts, closeouts, and other simple tasks.”
TourConnect has launched the tools in pilot programs with some of the industry’s top B2B travel companies, including AC Group in the UK and EXO Travel in Southeast Asia. AI requires large amounts of data, so the pilot programs allow companies to get a taste of the cost savings that AI can bring while building data sets large enough to increase the efficiency of the AI tools.
Demos are available for tour operators, OTA’s, and media by contacting support@tourconnect.com.
