Technology & IT | Monday 4 May, 2015 1:02 am |

Amadeus-connected travel agents across the Middle East and Africa will now be able to benefit from a new, fully online and time-saving booking platform. The global distribution system (GDS) provider is set to launch its new generation Amadeus Selling Platform Connect at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2015 that will run from 4 – 7 May at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With customisation and personalisation as its key attributes, the new Amadeus Selling Platform Connect provides travel agencies access to their customers’ bookings from anywhere in the world, from any device with an internet connection. The platform is simply accessed via a user ID and password, without the installation of any software.
Amadeus has used its technological expertise to design a solution that adapts to dynamic requirements, enabling agencies to anticipate travellers’ needs while greatly reducing their overheads and running costs. The new navigation model provides seamless interaction between the graphical interface and the command page, thanks to advanced user research design techniques.

The online nature of the platform also means that updates or new tools are shared instantaneously with the rest of the network. Unique in the industry, this feature is set to greatly broaden business opportunities for the travel trade.
Speaking ahead of the event, Antoine Medawar, Vice President, Middle East and North Africa, Amadeus, said: “We are helping to shape the future of travel by giving our customers a solution which is completely in tune with their work-flows and can be customised to suit their exact business needs. The upgraded version of Amadeus Selling Platform Connect is an

effort to make the booking process error-free and empower travel agents to deliver professional and comprehensive itineraries within seconds. The online flexibility also opens up a whole range of new opportunities to agents in terms of mobility, synchronisation across the network, and reduced technical costs.”

He added: “As the leading provider of advanced processing solutions and data, it is Amadeus' key priority to innovate and redefine platforms to help travel agency customers become more efficient and save time and costs. We are excited to see the outcome as this new solution is migrated across the network in the region.”
In the first phase of roll out, the new solution has been deployed in 20 markets in the first phase including Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and North America. Amadeus also offers comprehensive support to enable customers to migrate from existing solutions as well as to new customers keen to join the platform.

Amal Mohamed Karioun, General Manager, Majestic Tours-Morocco solicited that the platform is a remarkable solution that not only increases productivity, but also provides the much needed independence of not being attached to a PC. Karioun elaborated, “Its cost-effective model eases call-centre operations and facilitates customer support. Simply put, Amadeus Selling Platform Connect can be summarized with just one phrase: what a freedom!”
From its stand TT7620 at the Technology Hall during ATM 2015, Amadeus will also showcase a range of innovative solutions for the travel trade such as the Cryptic Magic tool, which automatically translates cryptic commands into graphical actions, and activates several productivity enhancements.