HOW TO AVOID COMMON MISTAKES WHILE PURCHASING TRAVEL AGENCY SOFTWARE?
A well planned decision about travel software purchase can be a great start towards automated technology!
15 June 2020
Choosing the right software for the travel business is the aim of every travel company as the right choice of travel software can decide the future of the travel business. Though every travel owner is aware of this fact, they tend to make common mistakes while purchasing travel agency software. This blog is to make them aware of these mistakes and will act as a guideline on how they can avoid these mistakes and make the entire process very effective
Common mistakes and how to avoid them:
1.Missing or Unclear
Requirements: 2.Unaware of Customization
Parameter: 3. In-depth Training:
4.Post-Sales Support:
5. Not Adaptive to the
Current Technology: 6. Not Checking the
Vendor's Portfolio: 7. Not Considering Employee
Voice: The Bottom Line: We can't control post-decision activities but
can prevent them by taking corrective actions at the correct time and by
being aware of these guidelines. These basic steps can save you from
badly sinking in and will cover all opportunity costs that you as a
travel owner might have caused by overlooking any of the above-mentioned
factors.
Most of the time travel owners
themselves are not aware of their business requirements and with this
dilemma in mind they plan for the purchase. This is the first and very
common mistake they do. This mistake is avoidable if every travel owner is
aware of their future travel business goals, what they want to achieve in
the next few years, why they need automated technology, what are their
business requirements and what they seek from travel agency software. All
these questions sorted out in mind will create a clear picture of the final
requirements and will make the decision-making process easy and effective.
Like unclear or missing requirements,
this lack of customization factor can create another mistake. If the first
mistake is done, then it can be easily followed by the second one means if
requirements are unclear then there is no question of customization points
in the software. With clear business requirements in mind, travel operators
can think of what kind of customization they seek from the software. This is
one scenario. The other scenario can be the travel owners are aware of the
requirements but still they are overlooking this factor and giving
importance to standard features instead, so how to avoid this mistake?
First, once you are completely aware of the software requirements and
customization factor, you need to check at the very first stage if the
vendor is ready to provide at least the basic level of customization as the
standard software won't serve your purpose as every travel company has
unique business structure and requirements. If the vendor is ready to
provide the customized software with a possible extent then it is a green
signal for you.
Sometimes we get so overwhelmed that we forget the
important factors. Now if software is as per your requirements and will be
available with the customization factors you demand, the other mistake can
be to overlook training criteria. Imagine you have the software you desired
but you cannot make the most of it only because you are not fully aware of
the software features or functionality. Your next job as a travel operator
is to ask for in-depth training of the software features. We are intelligent
enough to understand the basic functionality but detailing of every minute
functionality is important.
Post-sales service is important as much as in-depth
training. Training can make you get started with implementing the
functionality but until and unless we interact with the system, we don't
face any real issues in the software. Training gives us a green signal to go
ahead but what if you get stuck in between and can't implement the further
functionality? Here support comes into the picture. Only focusing on key
requirements and not considering this factor can make you regret your
decision. So check if proper multi-channel support is available by the
development company. Multi-channel support includes support via SMS, email,
what's app chat, user manual, video support, etc.
You as a travel operator might
be happy with the tour
operator software you finalized and it might sound perfect to all
you travel business requirements but as a travel owner you cannot afford to
forget considering technology factor. As new technology is coming out every
day and to stay up in the competition, you need to stay up to date with
current technology and purchasing software that supports this new
technology. As nowadays, cloud technology is leading in the market.
Cloud-based travel ERP application is the perfect package for the travel
industry to conquer with current challenges. While purchasing a travel
management software, not considering the technology factor can be a big
mistake and this can be avoided by thoroughly studying the technology that
software is built on and to check does it has any current and future scope
in the market? This question will solve most of the problems.
This is the very common criterion
to be considered while selection process. This factor may sound very common
and basic but has equal importance like any other factor. Travel operators
may pass through all difficult tests in the selection process but end up
failing in this simple step. Before making a purchase decision, checking the
vendor's website is important which creates the very first impression on us.
This can unfold many important facts about software Development Company.
Client's testimonials form a great source of input in the entire process,
considering the decision making becomes easy.
Employees are the ones who will be using the
software at last. So lifting the heavy load of complete decision-making
process without giving a chance to employees to open up about their
requirement, about their valuable feedback of old software, or without
considering their suggestions about the software features might cause them
to lose the sense of belonging, which further might cause less productivity
and harm your business dreams. The best way is to involve them in the
process, give them a chance to vote and then go with the flow.