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Dr Eric Tyree, Chief Data Scientist, CWT
Challenges and limitations
While AI can deliver cost savings, a streamlined booking process, and many other benefits, it has its limitations. For instance, we still cannot rely on it for the full automation of complex or unusual bookings, as the consequences of “getting it wrong” can be quite severe. If an automated stationery buying tool ordered virgin paper instead of recycled, you could just send it back. But if a business traveler gets to the airport and finds he’s been booked to Shanghai instead of Beijing, that could cost his company a contract – not to mention the frustration for the individual. Travelers require zero errors in their bookings, which is a high standard for AI to stand up to and so limits it to use cases in booking and trip management where near 100% accuracy is routinely achievable. Another complication is that to a large extent, industry players have worked in isolation, developing a myriad different apps and other technologies aimed at enhancing the travel experience. All of the disparate development means end-users have to rely on fragmented solutions, with each individual technology only addressing part of the experience. And it’s hard to see how the diverse solutions can be integrated because of the competing business models and financial interests in the travel value chain. To date, all the major players have, understandably, focused on meeting their own needs – and these do not always align with those of their supply chain partners. This does, however, present enormous opportunities for third-party integrators. There are also legal issues which hinder the indiscriminate adoption of many technologies. Most of these are centered on privacy and data protection concerns of data processing and ownership of data required to enable a complete range of digitally-enhanced traveler services. The recent European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) provisions regulate the sharing of personal data and we expect further similar data regulations from other jurisdictions in future. Technology has largely evolved much faster than the key players’ capabilities to manage it, and while the traveler appetite for tech solutions grows, the gap will continue to widen. This, however, should not sound alarm bells. If anything, experience shows that such an environment is the breeding ground for disruption, and we could well see the emergence of new players able to assemble all the functionality onto a single screen – and profit from the process.I agree We use cookies on this website to enhance your user experience. By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. More info
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