How can innovation help us build the foundations of a better-connected travel ecosystem?
The world continues to move so fast that responding to change needs to be considered as a primary objective for any successful organization – and Amadeus has a strong track record in innovation.
We were the first global distribution system to move away from the mainframe. When the internet became a thing, we were the first to make online booking possible. When the focus moved to mobile phones, we were again among the first to make booking possible in the palm of your hand.
Amadeus has never been shy about innovating and engaging with technological transformation. Innovation is something we foster in our organization, part of our culture. We give our people time, space and funding to innovate.
Ambition on an industrial scale
I believe that innovation transcends technology. It is a mindset and a way of working.
With teams around the world each day, we explore what technology can do for our customers, partners and, most importantly, travelers, as we incubate emerging technologies to transform them into scalable, efficient, and industrialized solutions.
In this way, we can bring fresh thinking to the wider travel industry.
How innovation thrives within Amadeus
Of course, we must create an environment within Amadeus where these ideas can flourish in the first place, and our innovation ecosystem comprises nearly 30 entities and programs designed to do just that.
A great example is Amadeus Lift, a bottom-up program which empowers employees to bring their concepts to life by collaborating with peers, customers, and partners. Over the past three years more than 240 ideas have been explored through the program, with a number going on to be used across the industry.
Elsewhere,Nexwave
, our incubator for new businesses in the travel industry, works to bring cutting-edge projects to a wider audience. Some recent examples of successful incubations includeAmadeus Discover
, a platform to aggregate and book activities and restaurants, andAmadeus Travel Ready
, a solution that digitalizes and verifies travel documents and identifications.
At the same time,Amadeus Ventures
allows us to invest in the most exciting travel start-ups, such as urban mobility innovatorEccocar
andCaphenia
, a sustainable aviation fuel company.
We also offer a range of tailored learning programs designed to impart new skills and knowledge on various innovation-related topics. Additionally, innovation challenges provide teams opportunities to solve real-world problems tied to specific themes and develop working prototypes.
We take the ideas generated by these initiatives seriously and protecting intellectual property takes top priority, with 1,400 patents granted in our portfolio.
To be innovative, our teams also have access to the right tools, and internally we leverage Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) through our strategic alliance with Microsoft. We were among the first to beta-test Copilot for Microsoft 365. We now have 10,000 licenses across the organization, for example, and the integration of Generative AI capabilities spans a wide range of Microsoft 365 tools, enhancing efficiency across Amadeus’ global workforce.
To offer oversight and structure to our internal projects using AI technology, we have established an AI Office, an AI blueprint and development environment to test prototypes, and an AI Use Case Review Board. These bodies support the adoption of AI tools by providing appropriate training and working to mitigate concerns by reviewing multiple use cases and undertaking risk assessments.
What are we working on today to improve journeys tomorrow?
To take just a couple of examples of the most exciting innovations we are working on right now, Amadeus is the technology provider behindEONA-X
, the first European mobility, travel, and tourism data space. These Common European Data Spaces will help unleash the enormous potential of data-driven innovation, allowing information from across the EU to be made available and exchanged in a trustworthy and secure manner.
This will enhance the development of new data-driven products and services in the EU, forming the core tissue of an interconnected and competitive European data economy.
Elsewhere, our Cloud and Creation Platform is designed to be modular, scalable, and open, allowing for the integration of various datasets through cloud connectors. This enables stakeholders within and outside the travel industry to deliver improved business outcomes.
Today, we have also identified and started to exploreover 200 use cases leveraging the power of Generative AI – and we will explore this technology even further in 2025.
Finally, we are working with IT providers likeDatabricksto develop a data mesh, a network of data that enables the utilization of reliable data in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The data mesh will make data a dynamic and reusable product across organizations, providing a decentralized, secure and agile data framework accessible to products, customers, and partners.
Innovating for the future
At Amadeus, we rely on our innovation ecosystem to bring new ideas to a wider audience, drive growth and efficiency, all while addressing environmental challenges.
At the heart of everything we do are our customers and travelers.
I am proud of what we have achieved so far, but I am even more excited about what we can accomplish together in the future. Innovation is not a destination, but a journey. A journey that requires curiosity, courage, and collaboration. A journey that can transform travel for the better.
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