Move talks with Miriam Moscovici, BCD Travel’s director of emerging technologies about the influence of the mobile channel.
The news
A majority of travelers now own smartphones, according to a recent survey from industry research firm Phocuswright. More than three-quarters of survey respondents aged 55 to 64 are smartphone owners. For those age 65 and older, the rate is 58%. “This milestone means that the true mobile majority is here, and that travel brands can now count on nearly all of their travelers to have access to a smartphone,” business travel news site Tnooz reported after Phocuswright released the survey.
Advice for travel managers
“This truly means there are no more excuses not to invest thoughtfully in the mobile channel. It’s the most on, most connected thing attached to the travelers we are taking care of. It presents new options for existing services and opens the door for completely new ideas,” Moscovici said.
“With this mobile increase, more travel management and traveler engagement services reveal themselves. Tools like our TripSource app and soon-to-be-released TripSource Enterprise platform grow in value because they enable in-the-moment interactions via mobile. The ability to inform and influence travelers’ on-trip purchasing choices is greater than ever—whether they’re looking for a ride to the office or tapping into WiFi.
“Expect travelers to forge their own path, but we can use mobile to bring them to ‘decision moments’ at the right time, with relevant intelligence or assistance,” Moscovici said. “Looking into the very near future, this also means mobile payments are really happening. We are going to see more opportunities for business travelers to make payments with their phones.”
