The traveling industry is one of the most dynamic industries since the traveling trends change constantly, and so does customer demand. As a result, travel industry applications require faster updates or even on-the-fly development and update processes.
Low-code development is the most viable choice to keep up with this ever-changing demand since it can help build and launch innovative services without minimum delays and with maximum security and reliability.
Why Low Code And No Code Development Is Needed In The Travel Industry
Low code and no code software development platforms can help travel and transportation organizations build the following applications and interfaces with high scalability and low resource cost:
- Baggage Claim
- Booking Engines
- Cargo Management
- Customer Registration
- Flight Booking
- Loyalty Management System Interface
- Loyalty Programs
- Payment Gateways
- Payment Programs
- Reservation Systems
These applications and interfaces also have to comply with industry and legal bodies such as:
- IATA
- HFTP
- HTNG
- GSTC
- Government Authorities
With a low-code development platform like Mendix, it’s easier to exchange data among internal and external third-party systems while ensuring complete security compliance during development for Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) based applications.
How Low Code Helps You Win In The Travel Industry
Here are 7 benefits that help you win with low code in the travel industry
1. Faster Time To Market
When trying to stay relevant and constantly adapt to the ever-changing environment, faster time to market is the primary concern for any application in the travel industry. After the pandemic died down, the travel agency is back in full swing, and agility is in high demand.
Low code development can enable businesses to create their required applications within a tight deadline while maintaining complete functionality, security compliance, and reliability. Statista has shown in a 2021 survey that 95% of respondents believe low code development gives them a competitive edge.
2. Involvement of Non-Technical Personnel
When you’re utilizing a low code/ no code approach, you can easily bring non-technical personnel into the development cycle.
While these individuals don’t have prior coding knowledge, they have extensive knowledge about the business and the target market that can help you create more user-friendly business apps.
It also removes the need to wait for IT professionals for the simplest cases. When you need a complex management-level app, you’ll need professionals to intervene.
But more simple functions can easily be designed, developed, and deployed by citizen developers.
3. Faster Build of Prototype & MVPs
Picture this: you’re looking to pitch a new idea for a flight ticket booking app, the board of directors will be your audience, and you only have a few days to prepare everything. You need an active prototype to explain how it all works.
The scenario may sound scary, but with low code, you can get a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) ready in a matter of hours or even minutes, depending on the complexity of the primary version of the application.
4. Easier Legacy Software Integration
Rebuilding your core software from scratch to modernize it is a very expensive way to go, and most businesses don’t have the budget to upgrade their legacy software for modern device integrations. Low code is here to unlock the path to convenient legacy integrations.
With the modular approach of low-code software development, you can easily add new features to your legacy system to modernize it as per the current trends and target market requirements.
You can also bring various metrics and advanced business intelligence into the mix and take more creative marketing initiatives.
5. Automation of Standard Procedures
Every business application has one or more repetitive processes that are better left up to automation while the team members are assigned more complex and intricate tasks.
With a bit of basic training, you can teach your staff to automate simple manual tasks like:
- Client Experience Improvement
- Control Document Flow
- Importing and Storing Files In Different Formats
- Inventory Tracking
- Recurring Goods Purchase
- Recurring Payment Procedure
- Recurring Service Purchase
- Relationship improvement With Vendors
- Streamlining Booking Procedure
6. Do More With Less
Even when you have a staff team lacking in human resources, you can provide the employees with tools to maximize their capabilities without straining them using low-code application development.
With a bit of supervision, it’s easy for you and your staff to automate the basic everyday objectives while they focus on their core responsibilities.
It’s a fun new way of learning new skills, and the renewed sense of utility can motivate the whole team.
7. Stay Up-To-Date By Embracing The Trends
There are quite a few trends in the modern travel and hospitality industry, and they constantly keep changing based on the traveling norms and the demands of the customers.
To adapt to this rapidly changing scenario, travel management professionals always possess an agile mindset that requires fast implementations of changes while staying relevant and losing functionality.
Low code can help travel business owners keep up with it at a fraction of the cost. But remember: just because it’s low cost doesn’t mean it’s low quality.
Low code application development platforms like Mendix can create highly functional, cloud-native, highly secure applications and possess all the fine qualities of a full-fledged application developed using traditional development tools.
Challenges of Working With Low Code In Travel and Tourism
While low code development is the trump card for the travel industry to keep up with the never-ending race, working with low code has a few challenges. Let’s look at a couple of them.
1. Citizen Developers
While low-code platforms offer citizen developers a chance to take a crack at application development, at the end of the day, they are still lacking intricate knowledge about software development. As a result, the application may serve a basic purpose but will fall flat in the long run.
2. Lack of Customization
This applies more in the case of no-code platforms, where you are stuck between the boundaries of the customization options that the platform provides you. If you want a custom element and the preset isn’t present in the platform, you cannot manually code it there.
3. Limitations on Scalability
Professional software developers have earned the title “professional” after years of training and experience. The idea of “scalability” is integrated into their DNA. You simply cannot replace the experience of a veteran software developer with someone who picked up a low-code/ no-code platform last week. As much as business expertise is vital, so are coding skills.
4. Security Concerns
Without proper supervision from professional developers and security experts, applications developed by citizen developers can leave behind security vulnerabilities that can jeopardize business operations.
3 Possible Use Cases of Low Code In Travel and Transportation
1. Low Code Solution For Travel Agencies
Complete flexibility is a requirement for the current travel industry businesses if they want to stay competitive. Any travel company can create the following functions to get the most out of a low-code platform right away:
- Automatically obtain pricing from partners and third-party vendors
- Build various packages for tours, transportation, accommodation, etc.
- Create and manage custom travel products.
- Create and manage marketing initiatives.
- Directly book flights, cruises, and land transfers
- Integrate data from legacy software
- Manage group and individual options
- Manage hygiene policies, restrictions, and other compliance issues
- Update offers and prices on the company’s website in real-time
Citizen developers can even implement these functions with a bit of effort. However, more complex functions will require professional intervention in the case of Rapid Application Development.
2. Mobile Applications For Hotels
There are countless aggregators in the current market, and a great way to up the ante is to create and offer mobile apps. Since low-code platforms like Mendix can create mobile apps as quickly as in a few hours, capturing the market with a mobile MVP is very easy.
With a mobile app, a small or medium-sized hotel business can attract more attention to its services, ultimately resulting in higher revenue while gaining a loyal customer base.
Larger businesses in the industry can also use hybrid or custom development to create native mobile apps to captivate a larger target audience.
Hoshino Resorts has already implemented this idea and created a new low-code payment system called Kintone, which increased their revenue and productivity.
3. Internal Service Portal For Airports
Modern airports can speed up their modernization process by automating and creating more accessible core services with low code for improved digital experiences, including:
- Baggage Tracking
- Check-In Procedures
- Flight Dispatch Operations
- Knowledge Base
- Queue Monitoring
- Security Checks
How To Finalize The Perfect Low Code Development Platform For Your Team?
Gartner’s Magic Quadrant For Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms can help you determine the perfect low-code development platform for your operations.
As the quadrant suggests, Mendix is the perfect choice for your low code needs to keep your organization perfectly competitive and compatible with all the modern requirements and trends while providing a seamless user experience.
Create Your Low Code Travel Solutions With Impala Intech
Are you in the market for a simple niche application or an entire ecosystem? Impala Intech has you covered! We can take you through the complete journey of low-code in the travel industry and help you make the best decision for your business.
Our team of professionals can help you identify your needs and determine whether you need custom coding or a combination of both low-code and no-code platforms to fulfill your business goals.
FAQs
Low code enables the development of customer-centric custom apps, such as personalized booking experiences, travel recommendations, and interactive itineraries. This ensures a seamless experience for the customers and fosters their loyalty.
Yes, low code simplifies travel process automation by allowing users to visually design and automate workflows, including booking confirmations, itinerary updates, and customer support processes, reducing manual effort and improving the operational efficiency of different business processes.
Low-code platforms commonly offer integration capabilities, allowing seamless integration with various travel APIs such as flight aggregators, hotel booking systems, car rental services, and travel content providers, enriching the functionality of travel applications.
Low-code platforms often provide built-in analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing travel professionals to analyze booking trends, customer preferences, and performance metrics to make data-driven decisions and improve business strategies.
Yes, low code platforms can integrate VR and AR capabilities, allowing the creation of immersive travel experiences, virtual tours, and interactive travel guides, enhancing the visualization and engagement of travelers.
