Software for travel agencies

Business Challenges

An expedition cruise company was looking for the way to eliminate repetitive workflow and provide a greater overall experience for its clientele. So they were looking for a new system for that and, besides, it was to help the Staff and the Crew of the World Discoverer to attend to the individual needs of every passenger on-board.

Therefore Intelsys was tasked to build a new reservations system that:

a.. Significantly would reduce paper workflow;
b.. All information would be automatically updated and stored in the central db;
c.. Brochure request system should be updated;
d.. Would make on-line booking available for passengers and Tour Operators via the Society Expeditions website;
e.. Would make automatic generation and availability of reports;
f.. Automatic release of cabins and availability could be set if blocks of cabins was not fully booked by specific date;
g.. Additional information fields must be gathered from the client who is booking on-line (ex. "Are you a certified diver and do you plan to scuba during the voyage?"
h.. A search function should be made available the ES website so that potential clients could search by the text throughout the site.

These are just some features of the system.

System functionality

The implementation of this project was based on the distributed architecture. Two servers are used at the moment. One of the prior tasks was to synchronize the servers. We have selected the Web-service technology that allows solve this problem using SOAP protocol and disconnected datasets. The problem of localization that we also faced was solved by standard means - .NET.

Interacting with the MS Great Plains accounting software and Sabre flight reservations system the system eliminates numerous difficulties that concern booking tickets, planning voyages, helps to consider individual wishes of the clients and provides the appropriate functionality that substitutes paper work, reduces expenses and allows avoid all the mistakes that may occur.

Summary

The project was implemented and the chosen architecture has proved its productivity and reliability. Intelsys's specialists evaluated several systems, options and alternatives that could satisfy all the stated requirements.

The efficiency of the company has significantly grown.

Used languages & Technologies

• Rational Rose 2000 Modeling Tool
• Rational Requisite Pro Requirements Management Tool
• Rational Clear Quest Change Management Tool
• Visual Studio .NET 2003