Corporate Travel Management (CTM) has begun making bookings through the Qantas new technology platform, a development that the airline says demonstrates progress with the evolution of its indirect agent booking channel.
From now on, CTM will offer select corporate customers the opportunity to book via the new Qantas Distribution Platform (QDP), which is based on IATA’s New Distribution Capability.
Qantas announced its QDP earlier this year as part of plans to enhance retailing, booking and servicing capabilities for its trade partners and deliver a more personalised experience for customers.
A pilot group of customers using CTM’s online booking tool, Lightning, will be the first users to access rich Qantas content via the QDP, which is seamlessly integrated into the Lightning fare display.
The QDP enables CTM to provide customers with options tailored to their preferences, including the reward and recognition of Qantas Frequent Flyer members.
Qantas and CTM will roll out QDP content more broadly to their mutual customers over coming months.
“We’ve collaborated closely with CTM to integrate their booking tool with our platform,” Qantas chief customer officer, Vanessa Hudson, said.
“It will enable CTM to provide our mutual customers with a more personalised experience, beyond what traditional technology has been able to deliver.”
Brisbane-based CTM was announced as an early adopter of QDP when Qantas first launched the technology in May. Qantas is continuing to work with its GDS, agency and other channel partners to adopt the new technology.
Earlier this month, CTM hit the news on another front, when it halted trading in its shares a couple of times following an attack by hedge fund VGI, which alleged CTM had overstated its financial position and faced potential asset write-downs.
CTM delivered a robust response to what it considered misleading claims by short-sellers. It also brought in accounting giant EY to reassure investors.
On the QDP front, the Qantas system uses IATA’s industry-standard New Distribution Capability (NDC). Qantas describes QDP as a key part of a broader digital evolution of its indirect booking channels “and an important step in the delivery of the best possible experience for trade partners and customers”.
NDC enables direct connection between the airline and third parties to deliver better inventory controls for the airlines. Airlines claim it also creates a more customer-friendly shopping experience and allow carriers to differentiate their products, to give customers greater insight into what they are buying.
Written by Peter Needham
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