IATA’S New Distribution Capability (NDC) is on everyone’s lips – from travel management companies to airlines. It’s set to affect the entire corporate and commercial travel ecosystem, but what impact will NDC have on your company’s business travel programme, and why should your corporate travellers even care about it?
What is NDC?
Introduced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the NDC is a new technology standard that enables direct communication between airlines, travel agencies and travel technology providers.
Why NDC?
Today, airlines offer a wide variety of products and services on their websites to appeal to the business traveller. Think early boarding, preferred seating, a day pass for an airline lounge and more. Travel Management Companies using GDSs may not be aware of the full range of airline products on offer, and airlines cannot customise the offer based on who is making the request.
Enter NDC… the new airline standard will make the entire value chain transparent.
NDC and Corporate Travel
Corporate travel is more complex than the leisure travel market. The corporate employer and their travel management company have their roles and objectives: duty of care, cost, control and compliance are all major factors in delivering a successful and satisfying corporate travel programme.
Within the corporate travel value chain, it is in everybody’s interests – the corporate, the airlines and all involved intermediaries – to deliver a corporate travel experience that works for the traveller both as an employee and as an individual.
NDC Benefits for your Corporate Travel Programme
- More informed choices
- Comparison based on schedule, price and value
- Relevant optional choices (ancillaries) prioritised
- More consistent airline pricing across channels
- Real-time product and fare data
- Potential for less out of policy bookings and leakage
At Thompsons Travel we understand that to meet the requirements of your company’s corporate travel programme, you need to drive policy compliance while simultaneously driving simplicity to travellers – and always at the best rates possible. As such, NDC aims to support and improve the corporate travel management ecosystem.
However, it’s important to note that NDC is a journey, not a destination. As the possibilities and tangible benefits of what NDC enables become clearer, there will be more opportunities to create even greater value in corporate travel.
Want more information about NDC? Contact Thompsons Travel today.
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