Decision-makers: how to choose the best technology for your team  

When it comes to collaboration within companies, technology plays a huge role. Technology has become an integral part of the travel industry, enabling faster decision-making, more streamlined processes and increased productivity. And we have been witnessing these changes closely. 

Due to huge changes over the past few years, it is no longer an option not to use technology throughout your business. Travel companies must adapt to new industry norms, and those who innovate now have an opportunity to get ahead. 

In this article, we will look at some of the factors you should consider when selecting a technology for your travel business, as well as how these technologies can improve collaboration and productivity.

As the travel industry advances into a new era of digitalisation, Nezasa has been collecting the right data to help decision-makers choose the perfect tools for their teams. We have been transforming the way businesses work and preparing for unexpected turmoils. And we created this starter guide to help you navigate this experience. 

What is the impact of technology on business

Technology has had a significant impact on the travel industry in recent years. From online booking systems to automated check-ins, technology affects every part of the customer journey. 

Innovations in technology have made it easier for travel companies to make decisions, provide more personalised and tailored offerings and increase efficiency in all areas of the business, ultimately allowing them to stay competitive, reduce costs and increase opportunities for revenue and growth. 

What are the benefits of collaborative technologies

In an industry as vast and diverse as travel, collaborative technologies are becoming increasingly important. They can help to reduce decision-making time, improve productivity and allow for more effective teamwork, in turn, allowing employees to respond faster to customer needs and to improve the overall customer experience. 

Collaborative technologies can:

• Save time and money
• Strengthen relationships
• Increase productivity
• Ease of access to information
• Improve organisation and workflow
• Promote business growth
• Optimise processes

And, collaboration in the travel industry is not only limited to collaboration within a company itself. Phocuswire identified the importance of collaboration between travel buyers, suppliers, financial partners and technology partners.

Smooth collaboration and cooperation between different stakeholders and suppliers, as well as within your company and teams, is key to the future of the sector and to achieving a more sustainable, holistic and inclusive industry. 

Considerations in selecting the right technology

For decision-makers in the travel industry, it is crucial to select the right technology. But how can you choose which solution is the best for your business?

Before choosing a technology, it is important to first define business goals and objectives as well as pain points that need to be resolved. Key considerations include the capacity for collaboration and teamwork, how the technology will fit into existing systems and how it can help to streamline processes. 

By identifying which areas need improvement, businesses can find the technology option that best suits their needs. It is also necessary to consider how the technology will impact your team and company culture and how it can improve long-term business goals as well as daily workflow and tasks.

Technology should:

• Improve existing processes
• Fulfill business needs and goals
• Offer ease of use and integration
• Fit your budget
• Offer scalability
• Provide reliability and security

We briefly caught up with Mário Soares, Nezasa’s Digital Customer Success Operations Manager, that had some interesting data considerations to add to this: 

“I would say that from our experience, and from the data we have been collecting in our applications, there is still a gap from what operational teams and decision-makers value within a technology system”. 

And one of the most valuable points Mário found in his research and data collection is usage. 

“We notice that when we directly ask for feedback from decision-makers and stakeholders, the way they value platforms like TripBuilder differs from what their teams communicate to us. Teams are looking for better, easier, and more automated usage. That’s their main concern, which makes sense since they are dealing with the operational side of the business.” 

When browsing and testing new technology to implement in a travel business, it’s crucial to consider the operational teams’ input in the decision-making process. More important than the time and money saved, they can point out which tools can address immediate issues and which can create potential problems in the near future.

How can you determine if it integrates well with existing technology

New technology should integrate seamlessly with your existing systems and processes. Compatibility with current software, hardware and networks is key to ensuring that all systems work together and complement each other, allowing for a smooth transition. 

Integration within teams is, as we mentioned, one of the most important aspects. Always consider how easy and fast it will be for employees to learn and use the new technology to make the most out of its features. And if the tech partner you just selected guarantees the training and onboarding setup that will suit your team. 

Answer the question – buy vs build a tech solution

Before you start looking for providers to help you with your most pressing tech needs, you should ask yourself if building a solution in-house would be worth it. 

There are many factors to consider before choosing one of these approaches, and you need to weigh them in your final decision. 

We have been witnessing a change in mindset in the travel industry in the last couple of years. The idea of “build” as the first response seems to have been put on hold as the industry chooses to “buy” from specialised providers instead. 

Unexpected events in the past few years have forced the market to seek ways to work faster, more efficiently, and with reduced teams. 

In any case, some companies have the resources to go for an in-house approach. But before they do, here’s what to consider:

• Costs: Building a solution from scratch can be more expensive than buying an existing tool and can force you to reallocate resources needed elsewhere;
• Time: Buying an existing solution can help businesses save time in planning and execution;
• Customisation: When you decide to build your own solution, you are able to fully customise it to your needs and adapt it to your team’s feedback as you go; 
• Collaboration: Working with other companies can bring some challenges when it comes to collaboration and timelines approaches; 
• Competitive Advantage: By choosing to work with an industry provider, you’ll be given access to capabilities that are trending in the market and perhaps be equipped with tools you did not anticipate in your planning; 
• Continuity: Technology providers have teams that analyse and implement new and faster ways to improve processes, freeing your team from these focus points;

A practical guide to choose the right technology 

First things first, before starting conversations with potential vendors, you need to prepare for these talks. 

A great way to start is by following a few simple steps: 

• Create a cheat sheet –  Include your main technology needs and the budget you have available and give vendors a complete overview of your current and future goals. 
• Create a questionnaire – Ask providers directly in what ways their technology can help you. This may include specific features or pricing. Include your team in the process while building these questions. 

It is crucial that this documentation includes information about your unique business case. Only this way providers will be able to answer you clearly if they are the right partner for you. 

Example for a cheat sheet

1. Technology Needs:

• Software: Mention the type of software required, such as operating systems, productivity tools, collaboration software, design software, etc.;
• Network Infrastructure: Specify the network infrastructure required, such as switches, routers, and firewalls, along with the bandwidth required;
• Security: Provide the security requirements such as antivirus, intrusion detection, and two-factor authentication;
• Cloud Services: Raise the type of cloud services required such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS).

2. Budget:

• Specify the total budget allocated for the project;
• Mention if the budget is flexible and if there is any room for negotiation.

3. Other Information:

• Timeline: Mention the timeline for the project or procurement of the technology;
• Contact: Provide the contact information of the person who will be responsible for the project, such as the project manager, IT manager, or procurement officer;
• Payment: Introducr the payment terms and conditions, such as payment method, and payment schedule; 
• Support: Mention the support and maintenance requirements, such as warranties, maintenance contracts, and support services; 
• Compliance: Specify any regulatory or compliance requirements that need.

Nezasa’s tech solutions 

Nezasa’s software integrates seamlessly into your current setup and has provided decision-makers with key solutions to their major concerns. This includes revenue increase, better operational capacity, employee satisfaction, better profitability and, of course, travellers satisfaction. We are influencing business outcomes with better conversion rates and more cohesive teams.  

But more important than the tools we can provide, it is relevant to point out that Nezasa’s solutions are built to help companies grow at their own pace and with the tech needs they currently have, not the ones they might. We believe that a flexible approach to our packaging makes all the difference for decision-makers looking for the right solution for their team. 

With our current structure, it is possible to adjust multiple features and capabilities into the present status quo and add to it as the team and the business grow around them. 
Find more details on our innovative software solution here, and subscribe to our blog for the latest travel industry insights.