Considerations for Travel Agencies on NDC
In this blog post series, Erik Mueller, Grasp Technologies’ CEO commented on the state of NDC in a recent video. We also covered what this means for travel managers should consider.
For travel agencies, there are two main concerns:
First, travel agents usually book their clients' travel through a Global Distribution System (GDS), and depending on the airline, there are different levels of seamlessness when helping travelers navigate NDC. Since Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) emerged in the mid-1990s with the advent of the internet, leakage continues to be a concern, if travelers choose to book ancillary products on other channels, better understanding the leakage can help a travel agency. The traveler may originally book the fare via the agency, and then later decide to purchase ancillary offerings.
Second, travel agencies are looking for better insights into the reporting of NDC items to their corporate clients and a way to track these items back into their back office:
Standardizing and categorizing NDC content when airline offerings are unique can be challenging, but it is essential for efficient management and analysis of travel data. Here are some best practices for standardizing and categorizing NDC content in such cases:
Define a common taxonomy: Develop a standardized taxonomy that categorizes ancillary services and unique offerings across different airlines. This taxonomy should be flexible enough to accommodate variations while maintaining a consistent structure for reporting and analysis purposes.
Implement data normalization: Use data normalization techniques to standardize unique airline offerings and map them to the common taxonomy. This process may involve transforming data from different airlines into a consistent format, enabling easier comparison and analysis. An example would be, is a preferred seat with one airline equivalent to a preferred seat on another airline or is it more like a business class seat.
Continuously update and refine the taxonomy: As airlines introduce new ancillary services or modify existing ones, it is essential to keep the taxonomy up-to-date. Regularly review and adjust the taxonomy to accommodate changes and ensure that it remains relevant and effective.
Leverage analytics and reporting tools: Use analytics and reporting tools that support the standardized taxonomy and can aggregate data from different sources, including NDC content. These tools should be capable of handling unique airline offerings and presenting the data in a consistent and meaningful manner.
Travel agencies can consolidate, normalize, and enrich their travel data with Grasp Technologies' data services and software solutions, leading to improved decision-making and more efficient travel management. To learn more and see Grasp in action: https://www.grasptech.com/demo