Rapid secures lastminute.com technology deal

Sunday, 25 Feb, 2002 0

Lastminute.com has signed a deal with Telewest-owned Rapid Travel Solutions which is aimed at improving the consumer travel booking process.

Rapid will provide technology which will make the site more user-friendly and include improvements to the flights engine. Lastminute will use Rapid’s Travel Traderâ technology in a bid to increase customer conversion rates above their current levels of 13.9%. The online company’s head of global development Simon Presswell said: “Our partnership with Rapid should assist us in continuing to drive the value we present to our customers and suppliers”.

Travel Traderâ is a multi channel technology platform which comprises a modular suite of applications designed to reduce the cost of distributing and processing travel industry products including package holidays, net, published and charter airfares, accommodation, car rental and insurance. It includes customer management, front, mid and back office, booking engine, and product management modules. According to Rapid benefits of the system include reducing the cost of customer transactions by up to 50%.

Rapid Travel Solutions managing director Lawrence Hunt (pictured) said: “We are delighted to have been selected as lastminute.com’s global travel technology partner. Our technology platform will enable us to continue to develop the level of integration and automation within lastminute.com’s international businesses. We are very excited to be working with one of the leading travel e-commerce companies in Europe”.

See our previous stories:
08 Feb 2002: Lastminute reports strong Q1 results
30 Jan 2002: Lastminute.com announces Japan joint venture
23 Jan 2002: Lastminute and Orange sign m-commerce deal
16 Jan 2002: Lastminute to auction holidays on TV
14 Jan 2002: Telewest ready to launch leisure GDS
23 Nov 2001: Lastminute on track for profitability
04 Jun 2001: Viewdata’s days numbered as Telewest buys Rapid Travel Solutions
23 Apr 200: Ex-dreamticket CEO says travel industry still to exploit the Internet