Unlocking the Power of the Cloud: Revolutionising Tourism Industry in 2023 and beyond
The global travel industry continues to recover strongly in 2023, and tour operators and DMCs are working tirelessly to manage the significant surge in inbound tourism. To keep up with the demand and maintain profit margins, tour operators and need to scale up their operations rapidly. Legacy systems that cannot handle the weight and complexity of increased demand are no longer viable solutions. As such, cloud-based solutions are playing a significant role in shaping the future of the travel and tourism industry.
According to Accenture’s Travel Report, two-thirds of the travel industry’s workload will be in the cloud within the next five years. However, implementing a cloud strategy and scaling it are two different things. Travel companies need both a scalable infrastructure and the right mindset to leverage cloud technology to power the new ways of innovating and operating that they need.
The same report indicates that only 30% of travel companies have implemented cloud technology at scale. These companies, referred to as cloud scalers, are achieving cost efficiency, innovation, and speed to market to create new services and capabilities and recover faster than their competitors.
And then there’s generative AI (GenAI)! – very much cloud-based, but more on that in our next blog…
How is Cloud-based technology shaping the travel industry?
The 
travel industry has always been dynamic and ever-evolving, with technology playing a crucial role in shaping its landscape. In recent years, the advent of cloud-based technology has revolutionised the way travel and tourism businesses operate. Cloud technology has opened up new avenues for distribution, sales, efficiency, productivity, and security for tour operators and DMCs. There are a number of ways in which cloud-based technology is reshaping the travel and tourism industry:
Remote Access for Enhanced Operations
One of the most significant advantages that cloud technology brings to the tourism industry is remote access. In today’s globalised world, where connectivity is omnipresent, tour operators and DMCs can efficiently manage their operations from anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection. This flexibility allows them to collaborate with team members, handle bookings, and oversee day-to-day business seamlessly. Cloud-based solutions enable real-time access to critical data, leading to improved decision-making and streamlined operations.
Focus on Core Business
By leveraging cloud-based solutions, travel businesses can free themselves from the burden of hardware and software management, maintenance, and associated costs. Cloud service providers take care of infrastructure, updates, and security, allowing tour operators to concentrate on what they do best: delivering exceptional travel experiences. This shift of responsibility reduces operational complexity, optimises resource allocation, and maximises profitability and productivity.
Agility in Adapting to Changing Travel Demands
In the fast-paced travel industry, the ability to adapt swiftly to changing market demands is vital. Cloud environments offer the flexibility and scalability necessary to meet these challenges head-on. Whether it’s handling increased booking volumes during peak seasons or accommodating sudden shifts in travel patterns, cloud-based solutions enable tour operators to scale their operations up or down effortlessly. Additionally, the technical requirements that often accompany changes, such as ‘IP whitelisting’, are simplified in the cloud, eliminating unnecessary complications.
Advanced Security and Business Continuity
Cybersecurity is a top concern for any business operating in the digital age, and the travel and tourism industry is no exception. Cloud-based technology provides robust security measures, including advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular system backups. This ensures the protection of sensitive customer data, mitigates the risk of cyber-attacks, and safeguards against potential business downtime. Additionally, cloud service providers offer guaranteed service level agreements (SLAs), providing peace of mind to travel businesses and minimising revenue loss due to unexpected disruptions.
Are you considering shifting to Cloud?
The Tourplan Cloud package of internet-based technology and services is optimised to meet the needs of tour operator and destination management company clients globally. It offers several benefits, including cost efficiency, performance optimisation for the Tourplan application, guaranteed uptime, reliability, ease of use, scalability, and robust security measures. Tourplan Cloud provides a complete, seamless environment for Tourplan systems, including platform availability, performance monitoring, data backups, integration of the various Tourplan platform components, and associated third-party software.
What are the cloud platform choices?
Tourplan offers scalable tour operator software and cloud solutions for businesses of all sizes. Tourplan Cloud is a simple, better, cheaper, faster, and more reliable option, allowing companies to focus on their core business online from anywhere in the world without worrying about the technology. Furthermore, the Tourplan Cloud is available in 3 different options, providing the ability for clients to access their data directly for 3rd party reporting tools and integrations, or even have their own dedicated cloud environment – a facility typically not available in other cloud applications.
Cloud computing is the future of the tourism industry, and companies that embrace it can maximise their potential, innovate faster, and deliver secure and seamless travel experiences more quickly. Tour operators and destination management companies that become cloud scalers will be the best prepared to serve the new traveller, interact with the ecosystem in exciting new ways and compete in tomorrow’s dynamic travel landscape.
We’re here to help with your journey to the cloud – request a demo today.