Marcus Eklund, Global Managing Director, FCM Travel Solutions
FCM, which has a presence in over 95 countries worldwide, has been named a launch partner for global technology provider Sabre’s collaborative initiative ‘Beyond NDC’.
FCM Travel Solutions is continuing to take the lead in driving development of technology to book IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) airline content in the corporate sector around the globe.
NDC is a travel industry-supported programme launched by IATA (International Airline Passenger Association) for the development and market adoption of a new, XML-based data transmission standard that enhances the capability of communications between airlines and travel agents. It holds huge promise for the travel industry, and will enable travel companies – from airlines to travel sellers – to evolve travel distribution and merchandising.
FCM, which has a presence in over 95 countries worldwide, has been named a launch partner for global technology provider Sabre’s collaborative initiative ‘Beyond NDC’. FCM will participate with Sabre in the solution design process, integration and testing of an end-to-end NDC solution to meet customer needs. The Beyond NDC program will ensure that the future booking of airline product optimises the distribution capabilities of direct and indirect distribution channels, giving FCM customers access to NDC-enabled product quickly and easily.
Meanwhile in EMEA and Asia, as announced in March 2018, FCM Travel Solutions was the first travel management company to partner with Amadeus in development of the technology provider’s NDC-X Program. FCM is already working closely with key airline suppliers to test integration of NDC content in Amadeus’ Selling Platform Connect solution. This will enable FCM’s business travel consultants to access an even richer choice of fares and NDC content in an already familiar technology environment, personalising the booking experience for their clients.
Additionally, FCM Travel Solutions’ progressive new online booking tool SEEQA, launched in EMEA in February this year, has been developed by partnering with Amadeus. SEEQA is built on Amadeus’ cytric travel and expense tool, enabling FCM to develop an exclusive roadmap for additional bespoke functionality as it aggregates Amadeus’ broad range of content from different sources, as well as FCM’s proprietary content.
“Our success as a leading global travel management division is founded on delivering exceptional personal service to our corporate clients and their business travellers. It is also founded on technology innovation and embracing change so that we continue to put the needs of our customers first,” said Marcus Eklund, Global Managing Director, FCM Travel Solutions. “We believe IATA’s New Distribution Capability will play an increasing role in travel distribution and our priority is to ensure that our customers benefit positively from the opportunities it presents through collaboration with our GDS partners and continued investment in our technology offering.
“Many of our competitors seem to be taking a short-term view in terms of integrating NDC content, whereas our strategy is much broader. Our aim is to drive the NDC roadmap globally over the next 12 months and take the lead in working with our GDS technology partners at Amadeus and Sabre, to design an NDC-enabled booking solution that is best suited to our customers in each region. We believe that these GDS technology providers are best positioned to solve the NDC challenge as they are looking at this from an industry-wide perspective, but we can also integrate our own technology with their NDC booking solution,” he added.
“We have been asked frequently if we are afraid of NDC. But the answer is ‘No’. We see great opportunities and are proud to be on this journey with Amadeus and Sabre in defining how NDC becomes a reality in the corporate travel sector,” summed up Eklund.
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy.
He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
