Travelport Smartpoint agency desktop update unveiled

A new version of Travelport Smartpoint agency desktop technology is unveiled today.

A new version of Travelport Smartpoint agency desktop technology is unveiled today.

The update marks the global introduction of Travelport’s Rich Content and Branding merchandising solution for airlines, alongside other new features.

The solution gives agents access to rich visual imagery and more detailed product information from participating carriers.

It matches the content and brand experience on the airline’s own website and makes the comparison and selling of airline services easier and more effective, by allowing agents to better understand what is included in the price and what upgrades and ancillaries are available.

More than 70 carriers are signed up to Rich Content and Branding, with numbers growing on a weekly basis.

The latest version of the desktop – be introduced to travel agencies around the world over the next few weeks – also continues to offer a virtual account number (VAN) payment solution. This integrates a secure payment solution directly in their desktop provided by eNett, in which Travelport owns a majority stake.

Other key benefits claimed by Travelport include:

·        Improved navigation, graphical mapping and interactive screens to make selling additional services such as hotel rooms and car hire, easier and quicker

·        New, interactive graphical airline seat maps and ancillary services such as bags and lounge access, which airlines are able to market to different customers at different prices in line with their loyalty schemes, thereby providing agencies with new upsell and cross sell opportunities.

·        The continuing ability to shop and book full service and low cost airlines side by side, within the existing agent workflow

Travelport UK and Ireland managing director, Simon Ferguson, said: “Agency adoption of Smartpoint in the UK has been extremely rapid with nearly 90% of our customers now using it.

“This indicates the UK agency community’s desire to be in the forefront of new technology adoption and will ensure the leading-edge content and functionality Smartpoint offers enhances the travel booking experience for both agents and travellers alike.”

The company’s global sales managing director, Jason Clarke, added: “We’ve spent a lot of time listening to our customers and assessing their unmet needs when it comes to making and paying for air, hotel and car bookings.

“This latest version of Smartpoint is truly ground-breaking in integrating a very sophisticated airline merchandising proposition.

“This, along with the many other enhancements we have introduced in this latest version, will make booking travel even more efficient and profitable for our agency customers.

“We’ve had excellent feedback from both travel agency and airline customers on our Smartpoint technology and their insights have continued to help us improve our offering.”