James Slater

Here's the stark facts in sales today. - 31% of reps are making quota - Nearly half (44%) of deals slip - Sales cycles are double digits longer, win rates are double digits down - Inbound leads are down - Salesforce recognised the need to increase pipeline coverage to by 50% (from x2 to x3) Most of those we speak to recognise all these challenges. But they are stuck. "Do more with less" is the message. They have cut teams and fought for those remaining. Their organisations are stuck with blind hope and knives sharpening. The only solution they know is to fire and replace. Because the real problems aren't acknowledged. The market has changed and it's harder. But are teams are not more skilled. The same teams, that could achieve in the old world are failing in this one. And the last message anyone wants, is we need to spend some money to solve that. "That's your job isn't it?" cries the leadership to time-starved managers and leaders. Anyone want to guess what's going to happen to sales manager average tenure (already at an all-time low of 18 months)????

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Revolutionising payments on a global scale 🌎   Our Regional Director (NAM) & Head of Travel, Benjamin Alderman, recently sat down with Business Travel News to discuss the rise of virtual card usage in North America, key areas of demand, and how Conferma is connecting this region's payments ecosystem.    Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/eBnkSqkx   #WeAreConferma #VirtualCards #VirtualPayments #Payments #FinTech #TravelPayments #PaymentsTrends

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Blue skies are definitely on the horizon with call volumes in the travel sector on the rise ✈️ In our latest podcast, find out how to take advantage of your call data with the help of AI, making it easier than ever to turn those calls into bookings, and travellers into lifelong fans 🌴 Listen here 🎧 https://bit.ly/3WNnw6Q #Travel #TravelMarketing #Marketing

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Are you concerned about navigating the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA)? See our guidance below to ensure your journeys run seamlessly following the upcoming implementation of the UK's ETA. Our ETA Partner pack outlines: • Who needs an ETA • ETA validity • Proof of an ETA • Entering the UK • Where to apply • When to apply • How to apply • What you’ll receive after applying Visit the BTA website for our comprehensive ETA guidance pack and informative videos. Check out our resources here: (https://bit.ly/4fiG06f) #yourBTA #ETA 

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UATP has teamed up with Klarna to bring flexible payment options, including interest-free Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services, to the airline industry. This collaboration aims to offer travellers more payment flexibility and enhance conversion rates for airlines and travel merchants. Key details: - Klarna will become a preferred BNPL provider for UATP’s network of airlines and travel agencies in the EU and APAC regions. - The partnership targets the $1 trillion air travel sector, currently dominated by credit cards. - Klarna’s BNPL offers short-term, interest-free credit with a 99% global repayment rate. This move promises to reduce transaction costs for airlines and provide consumers with more predictable repayment options. The partnership is set to go live in Q3 2024. Read more here: https://buff.ly/3zorKZO #Fintech #FintechNews #PaymentInnovation #Klarna #UATP #BankingNews

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Making the most of payments data to be in sync with latest trends #ATPS2024 - 1 day to go Travel companies acknowledge that #payments data isn’t a passive reporting tool, rather if all the dots are connected to see the whole picture then there is plenty to gain. As a merchant, airlines, in conjunction with payment specialists they work, must find ways to reap benefits on several counts. Some of the areas are: ·        Understanding the #travel shopper: Transaction data provides an insight into how travel shoppers wish to pay, and how that choice varies from product to product and country to country. ·        Operational improvements and efficiencies: One major benefit is cutting down on the number of manual referrals when payments are processed. In the area of #paymentprocessing optimisation, airlines can focus on optimised routing. ·        Conversion rate: #Conversion-related aspects like how long it takes to sign up to a #payment method, how to optimize the experience for all the payment methods, as well as what is resulting in payment to fail etc. can have a huge impact on the financial performance. ·        Cash flow and liquidity: It is worth evaluating how merchants don’t end up getting impacted by liquidity issues i.e. acquirers holding sizable chunks of cash reserves from merchants until the service is delivered. As for working with acquirers, Elavon, Inc. urges the #airlines to focus on missing data (departure date), downgrade report, pricing data and breakdown, and reconsider routing of transactions. ·        Dealing with #chargebacks: It is always important for travel merchants to evaluate the nature of disputes, how the process works, and how to prevent them from happening. Looking at the data, merchants can conclude whether cardholders are winning disputes. Merchants need to ensure they rely on data and automation to better manage chargebacks at scale. ·        Fraud prevention: Data can help in separating good and bad customers more efficiently. Artificial intelligence is already paving the way for efficient transaction screening, reducing the need for manual intervention. How to make the most of payments data? Hear from experts at the upcoming #ATPS2024 in London (22-23 May): https://lnkd.in/gShkJ8n5 Ritesh Gupta Michael Smith Christopher Staab Wendy Ward Laurie Gablehouse Paul van Alfen UATP Worldline Visa Mastercard Justt Adyen Worldpay Nuvei Discover Financial Services Nuvei Pay with Bank transfer Darwinium Endava PagoNxt (a Santander company) LexisNexis Risk Solutions TWAI eGlobalfares Outpayce from Amadeus Paypr.work [ˈpeɪpəwəːk]

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British Airways: Transforming Premium Travel Through Customer-Centric Innovation British Airways has long been a cornerstone of global aviation, but is it keeping pace with today’s customer expectations? In our latest article, we dive into: The challenges of BA’s outdated digital platforms Inconsistencies in in-flight and lounge services Opportunities for improving loyalty programs and customer support By adopting customer-centric innovation, BA can strengthen its legacy and future-proof its operations. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/dvk4ypcg #CustomerExperience #Aviation #BritishAirways #ServiceInnovation

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One-size-fits-all solutions typically fit none. Very interested to see what a more nuanced approach to ATOL APC Levy could mean for customers and businesses. Risk vs price, how do you get to a fair model that works?

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"You need to have an intuitive and integrated booking flow that agents can easily use along with automated post-sale technology in place.” 🗣️ With high-street travel agents in the UK increasing their presence with new branches, this piece from Travolution sheds light on the continued importance of agents in the travel booking eco-system. With some great insights across the industry that expose the pain points that travellers have in the digital booking age, Holibob's Craig Everett also shares his thoughts on how travel agents can, and do, strengthen the quality of their service by utilising technology solutions that enable them to sell ancillaries like experiences. Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dJ8a7akz #Travel #TravelTech #TravelAgents

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✨How Travel Companies Can Capitalise on Black Friday and Travel Tuesday with the Right Technology✨ A recent blog post from James Martindale discusses how Black Friday is no longer just for retail, it’s now a key event for the travel industry, offering limited-time deals as consumers prioritise travel experiences despite cost-of-living pressures. Another trend gaining momentum is Travel Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, recognised as a prime day for booking discounted trips. In 2024, Travel Tuesday falls on the 3rd of December, presenting a golden opportunity for travel businesses to attract deal-savvy holidaymakers. Want to find out how your business can capitalise with the right technology? Click here: https://lnkd.in/ebrufE5u #Traveltek #Traveltechnology #TravelTuesday #TravelOffers #BlackFriday #TravelAPI #CruiseAPI #TravelSoftware

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Travellers are at the heart of everything we do. Find out how we're simplifying the booking process to get your people on the move as quickly and easily as possible. https://lnkd.in/eEg6Spmk #businesstravel #reedandmackay Fahim Khan

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Three wonderful quotes from the Travel Tech Trends panel at Phocuswright right now: 1 Karen Bolda from Expedia Group (a very esteemed former colleague) “Every piece of new technology exposes another piece of technology which then falls short” (Note: Fully agreed on that, something I encounter A LOT with clients and prospects of Intellias) 2. Dr. Wolfgang Krips from Amadeus “Most underrated tech theme right now…? IoT!” (Note: Agreed as well, hence a centrepiece of travel technology strategy I had put in place is around Intel Corporation powered DigitalTwins and IoT integration as future topic) 3. Iñaki Uriz Millan from Caravelo “Things that humans do better then machines…? They make mistakes and learn from them” #phocuswrighteurope #fritztalkstravel #intellivoice #traveltechnology

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We've partnered with Sensible Weather to elevate guest experiences and boost booking conversions on the SynXis platform. 🌤️🌧️ Nick Cavanaugh, CEO of Sensible Weather, shares: “Our integration with SynXis offers a seamless way for hotels to drive more bookings at checkout while keeping guests satisfied when unexpected weather disrupts their plans.” Read more here ➡️ bit.ly/47ySmE0

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Over 23% of potential travellers abandon bookings due to payment issues. In the highly competitive aviation sector, this represents a significant lost opportunity! Our Head of Sales EMEA, Ciaran Wilson unpacks the transformative potential of Payment Orchestration Platforms to maximise conversions. Here's a glimpse of what you'll discover: 1️⃣ Streamlined Acquirer Management: Payment Orchestration centralises management for the 57% of merchants dealing with multiple acquirers, simplifying processes and reducing reconciliation issues. 2️⃣ Modernised Payment Interfaces: Upgrade outdated payment pages to improve customer experiences and increase conversions. 3️⃣ Efficient Management of Diverse Payment Methods: As alternative payments rise, Payment Orchestration streamlines integration, aligning with customer preferences. 4️⃣ Minimised Revenue Loss from Foreign Exchange: Address currency fluctuations and hidden fees with multi-currency processing and real-time payments for optimal rates. 🔗 The read more click the link in the comments. #aviation #fintech #paymentorchestration #airlinemanagement #traveltech

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Ready to transform how your travel business operates? 💡 Our latest case study showcases how we partnered with a UK-based travel agency to unlock seamless API integration. From faster bookings to smoother customer experiences, see how tech can elevate your travel operations. Curious how we made it happen? 💡 Dive into the details and discover the difference efficient API integration can make! 🚀 Your business could be next! https://lnkd.in/dyznZEv9 #TravelTech #APIIntegration #CaseStudy #TravelAgency #TechForGrowth

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Want to know the cheapest time to travel across 7-days in a single click? CTM's Fare Forecaster is your ticket to airfare savings - it's the ultimate superpower in your cost-savings game plan, designed to encourage improved booking behaviour that delivers big savings. Request a demo of CTM's Fare Forecaster technology today - https://okt.to/MpNzit #AirfareSavings #TravelManagement #TravelTechnology

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The travel retailing space continues to evolve, with multiple fares content available for the end user. 🛫 With so much content available, our Global Director of Product, Fahim Khan describes how - as digital adoption increases - we're simplifying the user experience for clients when booking business travel. 💼 #businesstravel #traveltechnology #userexperience https://lnkd.in/eyvAg5Yn

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