Jakarta – The rise of Online Travel Agencies (OTA) is increasingly threatening conventional travel agents. However, this application could be a new way to compete with OTA.
Based on a press release received by detikcom, Friday (19/7/2019) Saber Travel Network Indonesia, through its business unit, launched an internet application-based service called Electra. For information, Saber is the largest travel system provider company in Indonesia which controls around 60% of the GDS market share in Indonesia.
This application can make it easier for conventional travel agent businesses to serve corporate and individual travel service users for booking flight tickets, hotels, tours, Umrah, tourism and other transportation packages.
The launch event for the Electra application platform which was held this Friday morning in Jakarta was also attended by the Director of Saber Travel Network Indonesia, Deny Fajar, Management and Business Expert at the University of Indonesia, Prof. Rhenald Kasali and Motivator and Entrepreneur, Merry Riana.
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Electra’s service and application innovation stems from the many obstacles faced by conventional travel agent businesses who are unable to compete with online players. This is because people’s behavior has shifted from manual methods to digital platforms.
According to the Main Director of Saber Indonesia, Deny Fajar, several obstacles faced by conventional travel business players are mainly due to the weak vision and strategic anticipation of conventional players in facing the digital era.
Coupled with the long and complicated licensing process, a large investment is still required to be able to build an online application yourself and there is also a lack of understanding regarding digital marketing work patterns.
Deny explained, Electra is a booking engine based on an E-Commerce platform which is equipped with various features needed for traveling, such as online payment, travel insurance, travel cash, and pay later in the form of National Bank support for the financing needs required by travel agents. especially in managing its corporate clients. Everything has been embedded in one platform.
The breakthroughs made by Electra don’t just stop here, the lengthy licensing process to gain online access to airlines, including the process of obtaining online payment facilities, has become simpler and faster through Electra.
Travel agents who register with Electra will automatically get a website domain in the name of their own agency in the form of mobile apps which can be downloaded via Google Play or the Apple Store.
“The advantage of registering with Electra for travel business people is having an online application that is connected to all domestic and international airlines, along with features that are useful for consumers instantly, using the travel agent’s own identity. Apart from that, the transaction security basis used is the Deposit method “Top Up so that there are no delayed payments. This is certainly something that is prioritized by airlines because there will be no outstanding results, so the whole process is simple, fast and safe,” said Deny.
Next, just carry out the activation process according to the established procedures, then fill in the deposit in the virtual account that has also been provided to carry out booking transactions and issue tickets.
“We hope that the presence and convenience provided by Electra will give conventional travel business people new opportunities and energy to develop their businesses,” concluded Deny.
With the various conveniences provided, conventional travel businesses can expand their market without being burdened with high investment costs. Electra collaborates with IPaymu as a partner providing online payment services and also PT Bank Artha Graha Int’l Tbk as a banking service provider.
IPaymu is a customer solution for making online payments. Meanwhile PT Bank Arta Graha Int’l Tbk is a solution for Travel Cash by using a GPN debit card which makes it easier for inbound travelers to carry out transactions on many merchandise in Indonesia without having to exchange local money first at a money changer.
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(rdy/rdy)