Are you looking to digitize your travel business quickly?

It’s estimated that around 50-70% of enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects across all industries have cost overruns. It’s a similar story in the travel sector when implementing ERP or mid and back office systems. As well as going over budget, many of these projects also go beyond the estimated schedule and fall short of expected benefits.

Typically, all that risk is borne by the buyer rather than by their technology partner. That makes it a hugely difficult buying decision to make. Thankfully, times are changing and TravelOperations is one of the first movers. We implement business applications for a living and we do it every day. As such, we believe it makes sense for us to take on most of your risk.

Here are three steps you can take to stop your project costs and schedules running wild:

1. Choose a well-known technology solution you can trust

One reason we can take much of the commercial risk involved in business application projects, is because we adapt a standard Microsoft technology to fit the needs of the travel industry. We don’t need to develop bespoke software. This approach reduces risk, complexity and implementation time.

As it’s a standardized solution, based on Microsoft Dynamics 365, you can also be confident the technology works. It’s the same feeling you get when you download Excel. You don’t worry that the calculations won’t be accurate: you trust it because so many others have been using it for so long.

2. Choose a partner with travel industry expertise

Another way we reduce the risk and project implementation time is by harnessing our extensive travel sector knowledge and expertise. Our people understand the world you operate in, the industry jargon and the challenges you face. When you talk to us about needing multiple GDS capability or credit card reconciliation functionality, we understand exactly what you’re saying.

3. Choose a partner with a proven record of successful project implementation

Our expertise lies in tailoring Microsoft’s standardized solution to the travel industry. And, in implementing that technology using our best practice methodology. Ensuring each individual business gets the most out of the technology is a skill we’ve developed on many projects across the travel sector.

Digitizing your business can feel daunting at any time. In the current environment, travel companies need to reduce the risk, complexity and implementation time of any new business application. The best way to do that is to choose a technology partner with a proven record. You need someone with both the product knowledge and implementation experience of live projects with OTA, corporate, and retail/leisure travel clients.