Cytric Travel & Expense

Key information

Companies using the tool "Thousands", says the company, naming examples including Bosch, Mitsubishi Fuso, Eberspächer, INEOS and FCA Services
Number of users/seats Not disclosed
Number of bookings handled annually Not disclosed
Total transaction volume annually Not disclosed
Frequency of updates Every seven weeks
Type of company Technology provider (Amadeus IT Group)
Main markets Global (190 countries in 17 languages)

Pricing model

Set‐up fees Yes
Ongoing fixed costs Yes
Transaction fees Different pricing models as per commercial agreement and requirements from corporate customers

Content

Air All major global distribution systems, plus low-cost carrier and vendor direct connects. VDAs connect to providers’ computer reservation system and all content, including availability and rates, will seamlessly be displayed with no restrictions, just like GDS content. Approximately 100 LCCs are available via a third-party content aggregator, plus VDAs to a number of carriers. The complete content is displayed in a uniform way so that users do not have to adapt to different user interfaces.
Accommodation In addition to the Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport hospitality content, Cytric’s Vendor Direct Access content offers content from Booking.com, Corporate Rates Club (CRC), ehotel, Hotel.de, HRS, Phoenix DERhotel, Premier Inn and Meetago - MICE. The tool also integrates with leading travel management company proprietary hotel inventories.
Rail Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, NS International, Evolvi, Trainline, SNCB, SJ, Thalys, Amtrak and Renfe. Rail travel options are comparable alongside air in a fully unified display.
Car Full GDS car content plus Vendor Direct Access content from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz, National, Sixt. Transfer providers such as Flygtaxi, Groundscope, etc.
NDC and other direct connect One of the first providers to receive dual IATA NDC certification as an aggregator and IT provider. Cytric’s mission is to build the largest unbiased price-comparison platform globally offering transparency, flexibility and savings on bookings that TMCs can service. The company says the GDS channel is best positioned to support this vision and is its preferred solution. Short-term, the company is also sourcing NDC from subscriber-pay channels so clients can adopt a hybrid-sourcing approach in the interim.

Key staff

CEO Luis Maroto
President of the travel unit Decius Valmorbida
Executive vice president, travel distribution Angel Gallego
Executive vice president, corporations Rudy Daniello
Senior vice president, commercial, corporations Arlene Coyle
Vice president, customer solutions, corporations Lydie Charpin

What the company says

According to the company, Cytric is a GDS-agnostic “truly integrated online booking tool and expense management system which offers global unrivalled content, backed by partnerships with travel providers across the industry as part of the Amadeus travel ecosystem.” Cytric executives touted its comparison shopping capability with “all the content in one display, no matter which source” and the ability to apply “programmes with superior policy management.” The company also highlighted its risk management tool Amadeus Mobile Messenger. Regarding innovation in the last 12 months, Cytric has focused on user experience and enhancing its air and rail content. It has also honed its risk and traveller safety partnerships. “Thanks to our partnership with Riskline, we integrated Covid-19-related info, and with AXA Partners we offered insurance and healthcare,” the company noted. Cytric is currently developing its portfolio to cover compliance, smart payment and reconciliation services. With Microsoft, it is working on building new solutions for a smoother and more personalised business travel experience.

What buyers say

Cytric customers said they chose the tool because of the breadth, sources and appropriateness of content available in the tool. “It is an independent tool, and I don’t have the impression that my TMC limits the content to their own advantage.” Others rated Cytric for the ability to customise. One buyer highlighted the ability to configure pre-trip approvals from the company HR feed. On the negative side, there was confusion among buyers about the availability of NDC content in the tool, which may mean Cytric needs to focus on additional user education. Some buyers were dismissive about Cytric’s user experience.

What consultants say

Consultants complimented Cytric’s “incredible flexibility on policy and very good configurability,” but the client will need to know how. Cytric has TMC reseller agreements and also focuses on large market, direct corporate relationships. The tool has improved its user interface, has quality direct-connect capability in spite of its GDS ownership and according to one consultant, “no one can touch Cytric in terms of rail.” It is an open platform that will “plug in anything, if you can get the commercials worked out.” While some consultants see upsides in the US for Cytric, it hasn’t yet gained traction in that market. One consultant said it had recently slanted more heavily toward the Amadeus GDS so the partner TMC should have that in place.