Travel management company Direct ATPI is working with
Microsoft Teams to integrate its Travel Hub technology within the popular communication
platform, the organisation revealed at the GBTA Europe & VDR convention in Brussels today.
The development will enable its clients – 98 per cent of
whom use Teams, said the TMC – to view, plan and share business trips within
the platform. In addition, clients using Amadeus’ Cytric booking tool will also
be able to book trips within Teams through Cytric Easy following its integration
with the platform earlier this year.
Travellers will be able to use the Direct ATPI channel
within Teams to complete simple ‘closed loop enquiries’ such as downloading
itineraries and tickets, checking flight times, access invoicing information,
view Covid travel information and share itineraries with colleagues.
It is expected to be rolled out to clients’ travellers in Q2
of next year with additional functionality for travel bookers to follow shortly
afterwards.
Katie Skitterall, Direct ATPI
group commercial director, said: “This innovation will allow us to be where our
customers are. We believe that connecting our proprietary technology into
Microsoft Teams will support all traveller personas to make booking, planning
and travelling simple.”
Skitterrall said the
development would increase productivity on both the client and TMC side by automating
many simple tasks within the Teams environment.