Your Ultimate Guide to B2B Travel Solutions

You’ve probably noticed that B2B travel solutions play a vital role in the global B2B travel sector. We are talking about the market bound to reach the size of $4952.96 by 2028. That’s a CAGR Growth of 17.51%. No wonder leading B2B travel solutions process over 80.000 bookings and 14.000 searches a day.

Keeping tabs on this flourishing sector is essential for your success, whether you are an individual or a travel brand. However, it becomes increasingly hard to do so thanks to the rapid growth of technological innovations that keep driving the B2B travel solution innovations.

Given that this challenge is common for many professionals in the tourism and travel sectors, let’s see how to solve it. 

Below, you can find in-depth analysis and insights into B2B travel solutions, including comparisons, evaluations of effectiveness, and overcoming implementation challenges.

The Spectrum of B2B Travel Solutions

The current market is overflooded with various B2B travel solutions. Nevertheless, the entire spectrum of these solutions can be grouped into several categories. 

If you want to unlock powerful benefits such as seamlessly integrating multiple suppliers, diversifying your offer, automating the booking process, reducing errors, and unlocking comprehensive reporting and analytics, you need to know your B2B travel solution categories.

Travel management platforms

Travel management platforms are end-to-end solutions for travel companies built to help them streamline everything ranging from inquiry management to sales funnel customization. They can include a wide range of features. The most common ones are reporting, policy compliance, expense tracking, and itinerary management. 

Travel agencies often use them to streamline client bookings. They make clients’ preferences management easy. Travel agencies also leverage them to discover patterns in traveler behavior. In the B2B world, they are useful as they provide visibility, control, and cost-saving opportunities in travel management.

Booking and reservation systems

Booking and reservation systems are developed to enable the booking and reservation of several travel services, such as hotels, flights, activities, and car rentals. Travel agencies depend on these systems because they enable them to tap into multiple suppliers. Agencies can compare offerings, including prices and availability, to enhance their offer.

Tour operators depend on these systems because they help them improve operational efficiency. They can also easily set up package deals, streamline inventory management, and leverage online booking.

B2B travel software

When one says B2B travel software, the first thing that should come to your mind is the Application Programming Interface or API. B2B Travel software enables travel businesses to leverage numerous tools and gain access to services and products via API. 

Each one of these tools has its use case, such as inventory management, product or service distribution, or streamlined connectivity with business partners. 

Travel agencies can use B2B travel software to integrate different suppliers and diversify their own offer. B2B travel software can help with personalization and reduce work by automating processes. When it comes to tour operators, this software can prove essential in contract and pricing management as well as in distributing offerings across multiple channels.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of B2B Travel Solutions

Not all B2B travel solutions are the same. It means that you need to evaluate different solutions to choose the one that’s a perfect match for your travel brand. To do it, you will need to assess different factors. Let’s see which ones:

Cost-efficiency

Before you start using a software solution, you should consider cost-efficiency. What does cost-efficiency analysis imply? You can always address two aspects of cost-efficiency. First, assess the pricing structure. It can be challenging as there are over 9 pricing models for B2B solutions. It’s better to go with those that offer a transparent pricing model with no hidden fees and features behind a paywall.

Secondly, you should assess the solution’s scalability. Will you be able to use it if your business grows or scales down? If you can assess it independently, then feel free to contact the developer directly and ask them to address your concerns.

FlightsLogic is a leading B2B travel platform supplier to showcase transparency in this field. The supplier has five distinct product packages described in detail to help potential buyers see what features each one of the packages brings.

User experience

User experience with B2B travel solutions is paramount for implementation and successful long-term use. Why? Because for every $1 you invest in good UX results, you can get a return of $100. First, assess the platform’s interface and usability. It should be intuitive to use as it helps reduce onboarding time for your employees. 

Secondly, it should offer customization to some extent so that you can match your brand image. Thirdly, it should have support for mobile accessibility. 

When it comes to user experience, eTraviax is a great example. The company offers deep customizations and detailed technical documentation to help its partners achieve operational excellence using the eTraviax platform. They even have a developer-for-hire program to help travel companies put their infrastructure to the best use.

Integration capabilities

B2B travel solutions need support for integration with various supplies and third-party tools. Check if they have API and evaluate how you can connect it with your current solutions and services. It will help you streamline the data streams and facilitate a data-driven organizational structure.

Technical hurdles are common when you implement a new platform. To minimize them, make sure that your future B2B travel solution is compatible with most of the solutions you’re currently using.

The case worth mentioning here is Amadeus and its integration of Travex, one of the leading B2B travel platforms. Thanks to Travex’s powerful integration capabilities, Amadeus could offer complete travel packages, including air transportation and car rentals.

Customer support

Take a closer look at the developer’s customer support. Do they have a dedicated line for paying customers? Are they available 24/7? Customer support is a vital part of the customer experience. And 86% of your colleagues consider it very important.

It’s also essential to assess the quality of assistance or how fast they successfully resolve issues and whether there is proactive guidance to help you leverage a new platform right out of the box.

Some providers will also offer training and learning resources, which is a nice perk, especially if you are entirely inexperienced with these platforms.

Take Travelpro, for instance. Even after becoming a leading B2B travel platform for thousands of clients, the company lives up to the highest customer support standards. Today, they even have a 24/7 WhatsApp line available to their clients.

Comparative Analysis of Leading B2B Travel Solutions

B2B Travel Solution	Features	Pricing	What makes it unique
Etraviax	Offer sub-agents a platform to easily create various branches and users;SMS gateway integration;Online travel reservation system;Support for B2B, B2C, and B2E sale channels;Support for API integrations;Redistribution API.	Only available upon request.	The same level of support for both online and offline travel agencies.
Travelopro	Agent, user, travel agency registration/login;Profile management;Marups management;Check booking status;Cancel booking;Check vouchers/invoices;Real-time reporting;Multiple API suppliers (Travel GDS with Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre).	The prices are available on request.	Whitelabels GDS integration, SOAP and REST service support, and personalized service.
FlightsLogic	Secure payment options;Complete booking engines;Automation (searching, pricing, booking, ticketing, confirmation);GDS API + over 900 airlines and lost cost carriers;24/7 business monitoring;Revenue and commissions management	The prices are available upon request.	Custom-tailored web and app solutions, personalized accounting, and support for agencies of all sizes.
Trawex	Inventory consolidation and management;Travel APIs;Custom modules (customizable on demand);Access to 200 suppliers right off the bat;B2B agent network;B2B2B network;Agent statements and reports;Dynamic packaging;Hotel, flight, car, sightseeing, and transfer booking engine	Pricing is available upon request.	Mobile-enabled platform to streamline shopping, pricing, booking, and paying. Consulting services and custom software engineering services.

Finding the right B2B travel solution for your business can be tricky. Here are the top platforms on the market compared to help you reach your decision based on actionable data.

Etraviax

Etraviax is one of the best B2B travel platforms on the market. It’s an end-to-end solution for travel businesses interested in having a complete booking solution with top GDS Flight API integrations. 

Features

• Offer sub-agents a platform to easily create various branches and users;
• SMS gateway integration;
• Online travel reservation system;
• Support for B2B, B2C, and B2E sale channels;
• Support for API integrations;
• Redistribution API.

Pricing

Only available upon request.

User reviews

Etraviax B2B travel platform is rated 5.00 on Google. Users say that they are satisfied with the development work Etraviax does. One user reports that the Etraviax platform seamlessly works with Amadeus flight GDS.

What makes it unique

Etraviax offers a next-level customer experience by enabling travel agencies to benefit from travel CRM, which serves as a gateway to leading global travel agencies. The in-house advanced travel technologies enable Etraviax’s clients to use the B2B travel portal to bridge the gap between them and end customers.

Etraviax has a team of experts working around the clock to ensure their services deliver consistent quality in terms of speed, performance, availability, and intuitive design. Plus, the company’s flight booking software connects with DPS and XML, enabling their clients to get easy access to flights as well as cars, hotels, tours, and more.

Travelopro

Travelopro caters to the needs of modern travel companies, supplying them with innovative technologies and solutions. Leveraging the latest web technologies, Travelopro can deliver a complete platform to travel brands interested in shifting toward the B2B travel market.

Features

• Agent, user, travel agency registration/login;
• Profile management;
• Marups management;
• Check booking status;
• Cancel booking;
• Check vouchers/invoices;
• Real-time reporting;
• Multiple API suppliers (Travel GDS with Amadeus, Galileo, and Sabre).

Pricing

Travelpro has five pricing plans, each one shipping out with a unique set of features and services. The prices are available on request.

User reviews

Travelporo has a Google rating of 4.5 but has significantly more reviews than Etraviax. The clients are satisfied with the team of developers working at the company. They specifically highlight the customer support team and find it responsive, knowledgeable, and professional.

What makes it unique

In terms of features, you will find all the usual suspects with Travelopro. It also offers dependable services based on cutting-edge technologies developed in-house. However, Travelopro will go even one step further to offer you white-label integration. You will be able to completely brand your presence even if you use Travelorpo services.

Add to it the Travelopro network of over 70 suppliers and personalized service, and you have an end-to-end B2B travel solution for travel agencies of all sizes.

FlightsLogic

FlightsLogic is another leader in the B2B software developer field. With two distinctive solutions, FareZone and Flight API, FlightsLogic enables travel companies to enhance online sales. FareZone is a B2B flight booking portal, while FlightsLogic API enables connection with multiple suppliers.

Features

• Secure payment options;
• Complete booking engines;
• Automation (searching, pricing, booking, ticketing, confirmation);
• GDS API + over 900 airlines and lost cost carriers;
• 24/7 business monitoring;
• Revenue and commissions management.

Pricing

FlightsLogic has five pricing plans, with every next plan including more advanced features, capabilities, and services. The prices are available upon request.

User reviews

FlightsLogic has a Google review rating of 5.00. Users say they are delighted with the innovations FlightsLogic regularly introduces while still staying an easy-to-use platform.

What makes it unique

At first glance, FlightsLogic is a regular Joe in the world of B2B travel solutions. However, if you dig deeper, you will find out that the company offers custom-tailored web and app solutions to travel agencies and operators.

The company doesn’t focus on a niche market. Instead, it makes its years-long experience and expertise available to independent travel agencies of all sizes. Plus, you can benefit from the accounting specifically tailored to your business needs.

Trawex

Trawex advertises as a global B2B travel marketplace. The company offers various solutions and technologies to help its clients bring their travel portals to the next level. It’s also a completely mobile-friendly platform.

Features

• Inventory consolidation and management;
• Travel APIs;
• Custom modules (customizable on demand);
• Access to 200 suppliers right off the bat;
• B2B agent network;
• B2B2B network;
• Agent statements and reports;
• Dynamic packaging;
• Hotel, flight, car, sightseeing, and transfer booking engine.

Pricing

Pricing is available upon request.

User reviews

Trawex also has a 5.00 rating on Google but only has six reviews. Nevertheless, some reviews are from those who have been using the platform for several years. They find custom modules, an intuitive user interface, and 24/7 available support valuable.

What makes it unique

Besides the regular features, Trawex also offers a unique value to its clients. While its strength lies in ready-to-integrate B2B travel solutions integrated with all major GDS, the company also includes a mobile-enabled platform.

Clients also benefit from consulting services, which is great for travel agencies exploring B2B travel solutions for the first time. 

Implementation Challenges and How to Overcome Them

While implementing B2B travel solutions, you can face one or a couple of challenges. You should know that it’s pretty normal to hit a bump or two on your road. However, it’s essential to be prepared and know what these challenges are and strategies to overcome them. Let’s name the most common ones.

Integration issues

Compatibility issues and data discrepancies are common when integrating B2B travel solutions. There can be a lot of APIs, third-party platforms, and systems already in use that you need to integrate. However, you can efficiently address this challenge.

First, make sure to plan a step-by-step integration and test the success of every step. It will enable you to discover and resolve issues in time. You should also work with the provider’s team to facilitate integration, as they are more experienced and familiar with common problems. 

Resistance to change

Resistance to change has two aspects in your case. You might have to deal with employees’ resistance and then with partners’ or suppliers’ resistance. 

Employees can show resistance simply because they are unfamiliar with the new tech and because it interrupts the workflow they are used to. You can solve it by involving employees as early in the process as possible. With support, training, and resources, you will be able to overcome it.

When it comes to partners and suppliers, they might have their legitimate concerns, as travel platforms can cause operational bottlenecks. You can solve it by keeping the communication channels open, highlighting the benefits, and offering support.

Data security

The travel industry deals with a lot of data, and a big chunk of it is sensitive customer data, including their private and payment information. While you have security measures in place, the new solution you’ll be implementing has measures of its own. 

Discuss the security measures with the provider. You can add encryption protocols to ensure data security. Plus, you can also improve your access controls and ensure compliance with the latest standards. To raise data security to the next level, you can work with an external firm to benefit from security audits.

Customization & scalability

Some B2B travel platforms will offer more customization options than others, while others will provide seamless scalability for business growth. This situation leads us to the final challenge of how to find the right balance.

You should never get more customization at the expense of scalability. B2B travel solutions with modules are generally the go-to platforms if you want to avoid dealing with this challenge. The more flexible the platform is, the better, as you will be able to make adjustments as your business scales up or down.

The Future of B2B Travel Solutions

There are always some technologies poised to transform the travel and tourism sector as we know it forever. The future of B2B travel solutions is going to be shaped by the following technologies:

• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – hyper-personalized offerings wouldn’t be possible without AI-driven insights. We can expect to see recommendations and itineraries being offered through B2B travel solutions based on past interaction data, orders, and collaboration.

Predicity analytics powered by AI and ML will also shape these platforms, making them better in terms of demand forecasting, anticipating traveler needs, and pricing optimization;

• Blockchain technology – blockchain can introduce an additional security layer. Smart contracts can help reduce fraud and improve transparency. They can also streamline agreements between businesses;
• Internet of Things – IoT can help providers gain access to more to make their solutions more relevant to travel agencies, tour operators, and other stakeholders. Data can help enhance user experience and enable even more accurate personalizations;
• Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality – AR and VR technologies can help travel companies enhance their offerings and enhance user experience. B2B travel software developers can use them to make their platforms more attractive and immersive.

The implications of these trends and technologies will have a powerful impact on the travel and tourism sectors. Thanks to AI-driven insights, immersive technologies, and enhanced personalization, brands will be able to foster customer satisfaction and increase the number of loyal customers. 

Additionally, AI and ML are bound to improve operational efficiencies as they streamline several processes that are key to the success of travel companies, such as pricing strategies, backend processes, inventory management optimization, and minimizing errors. 

Conclusion

Staying updated with the latest developments in B2B travel solutions is paramount for sustained success in the travel and tourism sectors, as these platforms can make your brand more competitive and help you become a leader in your market. 

As the backbone of the travel business, B2B travel software offers essential tools for success. You will be able to benefit from streamlined connectivity with several partners, automation, personalization, inventory management, and cross-channel product and service sourcing and distribution. 

However, not all B2B travel platforms are created equal. Each one of them comes with its capabilities. Given that your business is unique, feel free to explore the top options to find the one with features and scalability potential that match your business plan.

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