STARTING early next year, Sabre will begin upgrading the distribution platforms of their travel agency partners to its new Sabre Red Workspace solution.
A suite of new and enhanced features distinguishes the platform, including a customisable user interface, data and intelligence services for fare trend and range, simplified comparison shopping via an interactive map, sales and commissions opportunity alerts, integrated revenue maximisation tools, and more.
According to Roshan Mendis, senior vice president for Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific, the new platform essentially provides a “consumer-grade user interface” within the agency booking desktop that seeks to benefit both agents and suppliers.
“A really important update is the (user experience) design. The platform will feature a configurable workflow, including an extensive add-on app environment designed to make the whole platform more intuitive and travel consulting easier,” Mendis told TTG Asia e-Daily.
“This focus on user experience is intended to reduce agent training time, including on-boarding new hires who may not be familiar with the traditional classical screen desktop (which will still be available).”
The upgrade features were implemented in consultation with partner agents and suppliers, and according to a statement by Sabre, has resulted in a GDS that benefits both sides.
Emphasising on the importance of rich content offerings and ancillary product sales, Mendis said: “A major differentiating feature of Sabre Red Workspace is the ability for suppliers to push enhanced personalisation and merchandising, integrating richer product information, including airline branded fares and ancillaries, into the agent’s workflow.
“This, paired with more advanced data-intelligence tools for airlines (and other travel suppliers), will increase revenues, differentiation, loyalty and traveller engagement.”
Besides the desktop advancements, improvements on other operating systems and devices will also be released to maintain a consistent user experience, with Sabre Red Mobile being released for mobile platforms while Sabre Web Services is being offered for OTAs.
Sabre will begin upgrading travel agency customers to the Sabre Red Workspace solution in early 2017, after a pilot run taking place later this year.
