a more intelligent view of the traveller and the journey.
“This kind of app is not beyond the realms of possibility, especially for expense manage- ment systems, such as SAP, that integrate with Amadeus E-Travel Management,” he says.
DATA CAPTURE Car hire costs, petrol spend, distances driven, GPS data and so on could be captured and compared with other modes of transport. Julie Oliver, managing director of Business Travel Direct (BTD), says: “Being able to centrally deploy an application to company smart- phones that integrates with the company’s enterprise resource planning or expense management solution would bring benefit. “Having an interface that allows you to add additional journey data at the start and end points, such as reason for the journey, would be essential for further analysis against the overall travel programme spend.” Efficiencies may also result from greater
productivity on the road. Golledge says: “Voice recognition software is improving all the time and in situations where using a keyboard is impossible or hazardous, virtual assistants, such as Siri [Apple’s voice control and dictation software on newer iPhones and iPads], could help travellers be more produc- tive. Productivity and efficiency are high on the agenda, according to recent Amadeus research, with 21 per cent of 400 business travellers surveyed citing it as a top priority.” Efficiency savings may also come in the form of more integrated notification systems. Simon McLean, managing director at Click Travel, says: “Travellers could receive travel alerts while driving, and be able to turn around from the airport, rather than making it all the way there to find their flight is can- celled.” Approvers on the road, meanwhile, would be able to easily and safely authorise travel requests while driving, he adds.
SAFETY ISSUES However, while Apple is widely touting the safety aspect of its Car Play, BTD’s Oliver believes anything that distracts the driver from the road ahead is “simply irresponsible”. “Asking a driver to take their concentration
away from the primary task of driving the vehicle cannot be recommended, no matter how simple the task,” she says. Oliver also argues that car manufacturers spend millions on the ergonomics of vehicle controls for safe use, with some standards laid down by statutory regulations, and asks: has Apple has done the same? The safety element comes down, in part, to
ease of use. McLean bemoans the distracting fuss involved setting up current Bluetooth
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
Efficiency savings may also come in the form of more integrated notification systems
connectivity options between personal devices and cars. He believes Car Play would be “true plug and play”, and removing the need to pair Bluetooth devices would remove associated safety risks.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY? Yet one hurdle to a new wave of car hire apps could be the manufacturers themselves. The automobile industry has many different technology standards, so although currently the likes of Volvo, Honda and Mercedes-Benz will build certain models with Car Play (future “committed partners” include Ford, BMW and Nissan), others may opt for Google or Mi- crosoft as their dashboard software partners. This limited availability of Car Play, Oliver
warns, limits a fleet buyer’s ability to negotiate deals across a broad range of manufacturers. And Golledge adds that once car hire companies do start offering Car Play, it might be limited to the top-end executive models. “But Amadeus would work to enable agents to book add-ons in a similar way to how ‘special equipment’, such as satnav, can be booked today,” he says.
FURTHER USES As well as car hire, there could be a case for taxis and minicabs integrating Car Play, with business travellers simply plugging in from the back seat to pay their fare, and even conducting video meetings on the go. This would be welcomed by travel managers if it offered a clearer picture of spend on taxis. One trick Apple does have up its sleeve,
though, is that Blackberry-owned QNX Soft- ware Systems’ technology powers Car Play, meaning potential compatibility with Black- berry devices, and a smoother road ahead in terms of Blackberry app development. Whatever the device, Golledge believes
any technology that can create a more con- nected future is welcome. “As our recent From Chaos to Collaboration report outlines, when transport options are seen as an integrated whole, rather than individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle like it is today, it will deliver benefits,” he says.
IN BRIEF
■ Air Canada is rolling out wifi across its North American fleet in May. The agreement with technology provider Gogo makes the airline the first Canadian carrier to launch in-flight wifi.
■ Easyjet passengers will now be able to use personal electronic devices throughout the whole flight, including take-off and landing. The airline confirmed items such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones can now be used at all times during the flight as long as the device is in ‘flight mode’. The changes come after recent recommendations from the European Aviation Safety Agency for restrictions on the use of electronic devices to be relaxed.
■ Travel tech firm Sabre has partnered with Trip Advisor to develop a new app enabling agents to access seat and in-flight amenity information. Sabre said the Seat Guru Red App will let booking agents explore seat maps, as well as specific seat information and traveller reviews. Agents will also have access to information on in-flight
amenities including entertainment options, wifi access, power and USB ports and meals.
BBT MAY/JUNE 2014 17
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