Railway Booking Content Integration | Amadeus and Rail Plus

• Opens up range of rail content including rail passes for Asia, Europe and the USA.

 

Sydney, Australia 9 March 2011: Amadeus, a leading travel technology partner and transaction processor for the global travel and tourism industry, and Rail Plus, the only dedicated international rail specialist general sales agent in Australia, have signed an agreement which will see Rail Plus’s extensive catalogue of rail content integrated into Amadeus’ award-winning front office solution, Amadeus Selling Platform, using Amadeus’ smart tab technology.

 

Amadeus smart tab technology enables the seamless integration of external content into the Amadeus PNR, streamlining processes, reducing errors and improving consultant productivity. Data can be transmitted to mid and back office applications, removing the need to move between various screens or re-type data into third party applications.

 

The Rail Plus Smart Tab, the first development of its kind in this market, will integrate rail content directly into the agent’s front office work environment, bringing multiple benefits to Amadeus users. There will no longer be any need to go outside the GDS for rail content, with the rail booking data included in the same PNR as any air, hotel and car segments resulting in significant productivity improvements. The information will also be transmitted through to the mid office environment ensuring a smooth workflow. The ability to search and book rail content quickly and easily will allow Amadeus users to provide their clients with superior customer service via the increased choice of travel options for overseas travel, with rail an attractive alternative to air in terms of speed, cost and convenience.

 

Rail Plus Chief Executive David Stafford said Amadeus users would benefit enormously from the development. "Integrating our extensive rail content directly into the travel agent’s workspace will make the rail booking process more efficient and accurate for Amadeus users," Stafford said. "Rail is an increasingly attractive option for both leisure and business travellers and Rail Plus will continue to lead the way in making it easier for agents to search and book international and domestic rail journeys."

 

Amadeus IT Pacific Managing Director Sari Vahakoski added “To be able to bring our customers rail content fully integrated into their workflow, from the PNR through to mid office reconciliations, is a very exciting development for us. Rail is a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly means of travel in many countries around the world and by introducing this content into Amadeus Selling Platform through a smart tab we are making it easier and faster for our customers to book rail travel for their clients. We look forward to working with the Rail Plus team in delivering this innovation to the market in 2011."

 

Diane Bouzebiba, Business Unit Manager for Amadeus Rail responsible for the development of the smart tab, commented, “This initiative for Amadeus users in Australia and New Zealand is a continuation of our global strategy to work with key partners in bringing rail content to the desktops of travel agencies around the world. We have already successful deployed a rail content smart tab in the Indian market and the popularity of rail in Australia and New Zealand made it an obvious next choice. Bringing rail content directly in the agents’ front office environment brings them more efficiencies, more choice and a new revenue stream. This is definitely a development that will benefit Amadeus users and give them a point of difference with their clients."

 

Rail Plus offers a range of rail product, including high speed trains and scenic rail journeys as well as point-to-point and rail passes in Asia, Europe and North America. Development on the Rail Plus Smart Tab has commenced and the smart tab is expected to be deployed to Amadeus customers in the second quarter of 2011.