Corporate Travel Management has added artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to its Lightning online booking tool in North America, the travel management company announced.
The expanded tool uses multiple algorithms to “continue to improve forecast accuracy as more bookings are made, providing travelers with more relevant options,” said CTM’s North America Chief Travel Officer Joel Bailey said. These algorithms process variables such as company policies, traveler preferences, and historical booking data.
This data includes not only a traveler’s historical booking data, but also data across millions of transactions to see what other travelers in a similar situation have done. CTM’s Chief Product Officer for North America, Lehi Mills, said at the Global Business His Travel Association’s Media His Day event on Sunday.
For example, an eco-conscious traveler booking an electric vehicle for the first time may not be aware of the need for a charging station. The tool can alert travelers to choose hotels with charging stations and display a selection of hotels with charging stations. said Mills.
A team of data specialists has been working on this project for the past three years. Following its launch in North America, the feature will be rolled out to other global regions in the coming year. In the meantime, CTM is looking for other applications for the technology, Mills said.
“For us, artificial intelligence and machine learning are the future proof of technology,” he said. “Instead of risk management, why not reduce risk by using tools and systems smart enough to identify potential problems?”
