Beyond the curve
Looking at other sectors and other regions can help assess the impact of disruptive technology
By NICK EASEN
that spans the globe. Change is the only constant, the pressure to digitise and
automate processes has never been more apparent, and the drive for innovation has never been more important. At present the fourth industrial revolu- tion is turning the manufacturing industry on its head. Fintech is not just whispered in the Square Mile, but shouted from the rooftops as it disrupts the financial services sector. Legal tech and automation has junior lawyers worried about their jobs, while hyped-up artificial intelligence and machine learning appears to be charging like a bull at just about every other sector, from retail to telecoms. But when a journalist lamented recently at the GBTA Convention in Boston that
“the future of corporate travel is basically the same as the past” and that “the struc- ture of the industry precludes any sort of widespread transition,” you’ve got to question why disruptive innovation isn’t making as much headway closer to home. So many articles describe the effects of disruptive innovators, such as Uber or Airbnb, on the industry, it gets boring after a while. Why isn’t there a whole raft of radical start-ups queuing up with exciting new options for the travel buyer to sign up to in this multi-billion-pound industry? “Innovation is somewhat restricted in moving apace with other sectors because of the legacy systems employed in the supply chain,” explains Ken McLeod, director for industry affairs at Advantage Travel Partnership. “We can only innovate if the surrounding elements also keep pace with change. One doesn’t work without the other, because of the integrated nature of
airlines, hotels and others in the supply chain.” Basically, the industry is the sum of its parts; a behemoth that’s hard to steer. What it means for this straitjacketed line of commerce is that any fast-paced innova- tion is occurring at the fringes rather than at the core. It’s why some business travel- lers use an Airbnb rental as the exception not the rule, or we see developments in traveller tracking or new apps. These are easier sectors in which to innovate. At this year’s Business Travel Show, the finalists of the travel tech Disrupt Awards focused on revenues, payments and security – again all lower-hanging fruit.
Ask travel buyers about technology and innovation, and a number recognise these constraints. Their expectations extend to innovations in fully integrated services, con- solidation and improved booking services –
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158