Technology has come a long way in our lifetime, and it is no secret that artificial intelligence (AI) has been a real game changer. AI technologies are changing the way businesses operate, including the travel industry. AI is creating ecosystems that are more efficient and personalised, providing enhanced customer experiences. In this article, we will explore the impact of AI on the travel industry and its implications for businesses and travellers alike.
The Basics of AI in Travel Industry
AI is essentially a subset of machine learning whereby a computer algorithm is developed to imitate the human brain and perform tasks that usually require human intelligence such as speech recognition, decision-making, natural language processing, and visual perception. These technologies are already transforming the way we travel, allowing us to access information and organise trips, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
In the travel industry, AI is being used to develop chatbots, personalised experiences, predictive planning and adventure recommendations. Now, we can book flights, hotels, and rental cars, check in and depart for our flight simply through a chatbot or voice-controlled assistive device. These developments are making air travel more personalised and more comfortable than ever before.
How AI is Changing the Way We Plan our Trips?
Planning for a trip was once a cumbersome and tedious task- from flipping through travel guides and checking several websites to determine the best hotel deals, things to do, and places to eat. But thanks to AI, this process is now a breeze. Several AI-powered platforms use algorithms to read data points that we provide (interests, travel habits, and budget) and make recommendations.
Chatbots, for instance, are being used to simplify the trip-planning process. Travellers can interact with chatbots from different platforms, and these chatbots will use natural language processing and machine learning to understand what the customer is looking for and offer personalised recommendations. Chatbots can also remember booking data to make trip-planning way easier in the future, removing the hassle of keeping track of multiple confirmations and receipts.
Predictive planning is another way that AI is making travel easier. Several artificial intelligence engines use historical travel data garnered from booking sites, search engines and social media to coach customers on when to book their vacations. It is believed that the AI engines are better at predicting travel trends than humans, helping customers to avoid costly mistakes.
AI-Based Improvements in Customer Service
With AI, the travel industry can offer an efficient and personalised customer service that travellers have never experienced before. Chatbots, especially, are being integrated with existing customer service platforms to make travel queries manageable. The chatbots understand the context of the question and its underlying tone and respond with helpful recommendations, buying tips, or bookings.
An example of this is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ Messenger service. With this service, KLM customers can get flight details, boarding passes and flight updates through Facebook Messenger. The airline has since sent over 16 million messages via its instant-messaging platform, lowering its response time from hours to seconds.
AI is also being used to detect customer satisfaction and feedback through mood analysis. AI-powered mood detection may sound like a concept from a sci-fi movie, but it is a reality in today’s travel industry. Several AI engines can measure the sentiment of customer feedback about their booking experience, hotel stay, and opinion about the destination, leading to faster resolution of client complaints.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Artificial intelligence industry is revolutionising the travel industry in many ways. Not only is it making travel more personalised, it is also making the process of planning and booking a trip more accessible and easier, in addition to providing high-quality customer service. AI technology such as chatbots, predictive analytics and mood analysis are only the beginning of the technological evolution of the travel industry. It’s clear that AI is transforming businesses globally, and the travel industry is one of the sectors that have benefitted significantly. It will be exciting to see how AI continues to evolve on the travel sector.