Rise of the ‘super apps’

A buyer at the recent Institute of Travel Management conference noted: “It’s very hard to find one online booking tool that allows you to book trains, cars and taxis all in the same spot”.

But several technology-focused specialist companies are working hard to change this, including Jyrney, HQ and The Miles Consultancy’s Mobility IQ, among others.

Daniel Price, CEO of Jyrney, says: “Our goal is to be accessible wherever travellers need us, so we work closely with TMCs, booking platforms and – more recently – directly with corporate clients.

“This direct approach has emerged due to growing demand from travel buyers who want immediate access to our technology – sometimes faster than their TMCs have been able to deliver.”

Price adds that Jyrney has “made significant strides” in integrating taxi, chauffeur and ride-hail services this year, which is making it easier for corporates to “seamlessly manage” multiple suppliers.

Meanwhile, The Miles Consultancy’s president of mobility Stuart Donnelly tells BTN Europe that it is now rolling out the Mobility IQ platform to five major global corporates after successfully completing its beta testing phase.

Donnelly says the app includes “all your favourite” taxi, ride-share and chauffeur operators, as well as train content integrated from Rail Europe. There are also plans to eventually add car rental, although it is “not a priority”.

“The very reason why we started there is because today ground transportation is booked by the user directly in most cases and is not part of the existing corporate travel technology ecosystem,” explains Donnelly. “So, rather than trying to shoehorn in innovation and new technology into an old antiquated system, we encourage people to start with a blank canvas.

“We are absolutely not against collaborating with TMCs and connecting with the existing ecosystem, but our priority has been to solve the problem that content is not accessible in most cases beyond car rental through the conventional OBT and TMC.”

Another specialist, HQ, aims to streamline ground transport by providing content to TMCs and OBTs, and is developing its SummitGround app with the promise of a “ride-hail-like experience for booking all types of car services”.

“Travellers can use a single app to book rides anywhere in the world, removing the need for multiple apps, currency conversions and language barriers,” says managing director Jeff LaFave.

“The app provides transparency and convenience, with real-time tracking and detailed driver information automatically mirrored on the desktop experience.

“We believe the concept of mobility as a service is coming to fruition. We’re seeing technology and transportation become increasingly intertwined in ways that promise greater transparency, efficiency and a wider array of ground travel options for both corporates and travellers.”