With innumerable travelers in the world you need an efficient booking platform so that they can reliably book their travel. But building a platform which lets them book travel is easier said than done. Many booking platforms promise quick and efficient booking. These promises turn out to be just promises. Day-to-day challenges arise because developers built the booking platform on an unsound foundation.
The technology partner should take into account the key problems a booking platform is likely to face before building a booking platform. The focus should be on creating a travel booking platform that will be user-friendly. In this blog, we will outline the key steps on which a technology partner should keep its focus on while building a booking platform.
Stage1: Ideation of Booking Platform
A lot of brainstorming has to be done initially. The thought process will set the agenda. The key things that must be mulled over in the boarding room are the below.
1. Scope of booking platform – Whether it is supposed to be B2B or B2C or a combination of both.
2. What are the needs it will cater to? – Whether it will be a package booking or just flight booking must be decided. Package booking means the booking platform must be able to handle cruises, car rentals, flights and hotels.
3. Which regions will it focus on? – We must know whom we are catering to. Whether the booking platform is for domestic travel or international travel or both.
Stage 2: Comprehensive research
Now that things have started taking shape, you must know whether you are on the right track. Expandorix does comprehensive research so that you can be on the right track.
- 1. Look at what competitors are doing in your area.
- 2. Analyze the requirements of a reliable software.
- 3. Decide the customer support system you will have.
- 4. Relevant policies around privacy according to the region.
- 5. Policy for cancellation and refund.
- 6. Disclaimers to ensure a booking platform doesn’t fall prey to legal cases.
Stage 3: Create a user-friendly interface
UX and UI should be designed to serve the requirements of users. Use of responsive icons will enhance the experience of customers. Expandorix will create a UX and UI focused on engaging them.
1. Managing your travel – The UX/UI features should make booking management seamless and enjoyable.
2.Searching all options on-the-go – On any day, users shouldn’t feel that the search engine is letting them down.
3. Ability to create an account – Users must be able to create an account by registering themselves.
4. Track past bookings – A user must be able to track every purchase they made in the past.
Stage 5: Create a robust backend
Travel booking is all about data. Data about suppliers, data about customers and data about destinations. Given that a travel booking platform depends so much on data, it must have a robust backend.
1. Use an efficient and reliable database – A travel booking platform must be able to store data reliably and efficiently.
2. Use a database to analyze performance – A structured database helps a booking platform assess performance and build short-term and long-term strategies.
3.Avoids conflicts – A reliable database ensures that there are fewer instances of conflicts like double booking or overbooking.
4.Heavy-duty performance – A robust backend ensures your booking platform performs well during peak times also.
Stage 4: Integrate all relevant APIs and Plug-Ins
APIs and plug-ins enable developers to customize a booking platform according to customer requirements. Expandorix has high-end coding expertise in JavaScript and Python to accomplish this in travel booking platforms.
- Real-time communication – Set up live chat with a customer.
- Real-time data-sharing from global platforms – APIs let your booking agent connect with global platforms like GDS & Amadeus.
- Booking agents need real-time data flow from all suppliers, so developers must integrate the platform with them.
- Developers must also integrate a payment gateway to ensure payments process reliably.
- Calendar for scheduling – APIs will assist a customer use a calendar to choose a date.
- Authentication of a customer – To avoid any fraud, a booking platform must have tools to authenticate a customer.
Stage 5: Testing of the booking platform
An end-to-end booking platform must have every module working as per the requirements. Expandorix has a team of testers to ensure everything in an online travel booking platform is working smoothly.
- Testing of integration – All modules of an end-to-end booking platform must work together correctly.
- End-to-end testing – The technology partner will simulate real user behavior from start to finish.
- UI/UX testing – The user interface you created must be functional.
- Testers ensure customers receive notifications by checking that emails, SMS, and push notifications send correctly.
State 6: Monitoring of the platform
Errors must be sorted as fast as they creep in. Since no system is foolproof, a technology partner must be prepared to assist a start-up at every step. Expandorix has a team of engineers and managers to ensure your booking platform gets the timely attention.
- DevOps – Handle times when the traffic volume and the number of bookings are high.
- Product managers – Ensure conversion rate is good.
- QA assurance – Address glitches like failed payments or double booking.
- Frontend engineers – They ensure that the UI is responsive.
- Backend engineers – Ensure the database is reliable.
- Security engineers – Track fraudulent transactions, data breaches and suspicious login attempts.
Final Thoughts
A booking platform must be designed for heavy-duty performance. It must be able to integrate thousands of suppliers and handle customers in real-time. A reliable payment gateway must be integrated so that a customer’s payment goes through without any glitch. The payment gateway should, at the same time, be secure. This is as important for building a booking platform that customers can trust.
We understand the requirements of travel booking platforms thoroughly. Our custom-made travel software solutions are designed for efficient booking. We have the necessary resources to set up your booking platform from scratch. If you want to expand, Expandorix can scale up your operations both domestically and internationally.
