Travelling, both for work and leisure has come a long way. With varied modes of transport available, it will not be an overstatement to suggest that people are spoilt for choices today. Due to this, the entire ticketing landscape has seen the light of day. The present scenario in global ticketing offers seamlessness of the highest level. Corporate or Retail tickets majorly takes place through the following platforms:
Online Ticketing: This customized ticketing option is what most of us go for. Every time you access any travel website for ticketing, the experience is bound to be seamless. The best part is that the majority of ticket booking these days happens through this variant making it one of the most popular ones around.
App-based Ticketing: This takes the user experience to another level. Ticketing companies and even agents have started to rely a lot on applications that are very specific to their line of expertise. And to top it all, every app comes with exclusivity that seems to be varied from others.
Window Ticketing: The traditional way of getting tickets made, this model still holds its fort. Though there has been a huge slump in the number of users going for it yet in regions where online services have not penetrated to an extent they should be penetrating, window ticketing popularity hasn’t shaken a bit.
Travel Agent Ticketing: And finally you have the authorized agents who act on behalf of the travel company and get the tickets done either through their personalized travel portal or through the travel company websites with a personal, dedicated login option.
Having said that, with technology taking over the erstwhile used methods, the future of ticketing not only looks promising but sustainable as well. So what is in store for travel enthusiasts or corporate clients across the world which they must be very keen to look out for?
Travel & Technology
It may be ideal to say that technology is the driving force of change for the travel industry. However, with the travel industry leading spending on the IoT-Internet of Things, there are many expectations which have increased by the day. Many travel companies to simplify the ticketing process have started taking services of travel managers. Be it Mobile bookings or secure payments, travel managers provide solutions to all your travel needs. Itinerary management platforms alleviate some of the common stresses associated with business travel. Travel managers enhance the ticketing experience by presenting customized programs or itineraries which elevate the user experience by a fair amount.
Millennial Travelers: Travel comfort at their fingertips
Millennial are more likely to get attracted to loyalty programs by 65% as for them digital connectivity is a natural reality. Most of their ticketing happens through their smartphones either via an app or through mailers sent as a marketing tool by travel operators. Millennial reaching young adulthood are important to consider in future programs. They constitute 20% of International travel as per the World Youth Student and Educational- WYSE Travel Confederation. Another study by Expedia revealed that professionals ranging between 18 and 30 do on average of five business trips a year. Thirty-two per cent of this age group gets their travel booking done via their smartphones. The future of ticketing predominantly will revolve around the hands-on technology which is available at the right place and time.
Point of sale
One of the most important drivers of ticketing is its point of sale. In all fairness, the ticket generation process needs to be flawless, fast, and also should not involve a premium. Most of the ticketing companies might start to initiate an angle of travel desks at key points. Not only the travel experts at these desks would cater to your customized transport needs but they would also be equipped to serve you with alternate travel arrangements too.
Use of consoles
Travellers across the world, be it any mode, prefer to make travel transactions themselves as it is quick and doesn’t involve any agent or third party commission. To provide solutions in this, travel companies may look forward to having their consoles placed at strategic locations where travellers can come and get their preferred booking of transport and stay done themselves. Though this will not involve any human intervention, yet come to think of it, when we assume frequent travellers to be tech-savvy, this element can sure make a lot of sense and difference.
