The Role of NDC in Transforming the Industry
By Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, Managing Director Amadeus Gulf
In the ever-evolving travel industry, airlines and travel agencies are increasingly turning to cutting-edge solutions to stay competitive and deliver enhanced customer experiences. One such airline retailing solution is New Distribution Capability (NDC), a transformative approach that is reshaping how airlines and travel sellers interact with consumers, unlocking new opportunities for personalization, differentiation, and growth.
For Amadeus, NDC represents a significant shift in the way airlines distribute their products, and how travel sellers consume them. By embracing NDC, airlines gain the ability to deliver richer, more personalized content to travelers, allowing for more dynamic and flexible pricing models. In real-time, travel sellers can access tailored offers that meet the specific needs and preferences of their clients, ultimately driving better customer experiences and higher revenue potential.
Enhancing Product Differentiation and Customer Experiences
At its core, NDC enables airlines to innovate in ways that supports modern retailing, giving them greater control over their content, and allowing them to present their products in a way that is more relevant and engaging for consumers. With this technology, airlines can offer unique bundles, special services, and customized fare options, differentiating their offerings from competitors – and distribute them in a way that enrich and enhance the shopping experience on the buyer’s side. As a result, travelers can enjoy a more tailored experience—one that aligns with their individual or company preferences, whether they prioritize cost savings, convenience, or premium services.
From the perspective of travel sellers, NDC can provide them with more dynamic content and tailored offers, allowing agents to access the latest fares and offers and craft more personalized travel packages. This not only enhances the value provided to travelers but also strengthens the relationship between the travel sellers and their clients. By delivering offers that are more relevant and attractive, travel sellers are better equipped to capture new revenue streams and improve customer loyalty in a highly competitive market.
NDC’s Impact on Revenue Potential
NDC also brings significant revenue opportunities to both airlines and travel agents. The dynamic pricing capabilities enabled by NDC allow airlines to adjust their fares in real-time based on market demand, traveller preferences, and competitive factors. This level of pricing flexibility opens the door to more strategic revenue management and improved yield. At the same time, travel sellers are able to access exclusive deals and tailored offers that resonate more with their clients, driving additional sales and elevating the overall travel experience.
For airlines, the ability to provide detailed service descriptions, images and personalized offers through the NDC technology allows for upselling and cross-selling opportunities that were previously untapped. Travel agents, by accessing this richer content, can better recommend and cross-sell ancillary services such as seat upgrades, baggage options, and inflight services to best suit their clients’ needs, ultimately increasing revenue per passenger.
NDC: A Future-Proof Solution for Travel Sellers
In today’s rapidly changing travel landscape, the adoption of NDC is becoming essential for travel sellers to remain competitive. As travelers increasingly expect a personalized, seamless, and efficient booking experience, travel sellers must evolve to meet these demands. NDC provides the tools needed to deliver on these expectations, helping travel sellers future-proof their business by staying ahead of industry trends.
At Amadeus, we recognize the importance of NDC in driving the next phase of industry growth. We are committed to supporting travel agencies through this transition by offering the tools, content, and expertise necessary to thrive in the new world of modern retailing. We exploit all the advances that this new technology brings, but we also make sure that it makes sense for those using it, not compromising operational efficiency.
That is why our solutions provide deep end-to-end integrations of content via NDC into the travel seller’s technical ecosystem, so that existing tools and processes can be used also with NDC-sourced content.
By embracing NDC, travel sellers can unlock new potential and deliver superior value to their clients, securing their place in the future of travel.
