Software Development

Software Development: Every Error Is an Opportunity

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Through the cyclical repetition of measurements, evaluations and optimizations a targeted improvement of productivity and quality can be achieved in software development. Thereby error analysis is an essential part of this process.

When processing an error, the focus is naturally on correcting it in order to eliminate the user’s restrictions on the use of the system. In many cases, agreed response or troubleshooting times require a quick focus on a solution, even if it is only a workaround solution that does not prevent the error from occurring in the long term. Continue reading 

Corporate Travel • Travel Industry

Next Generation Online Booking Tools for Business Travel

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Many times I am asked: “What are the characteristics of a good, flexible, modern Online Booking Tool (OBT) for travel?” Some of the existing ones carry a lot of baggage, which makes them less flexible. They are and in constant competition with rapidly changing consumer applications. But those ‘legacy’ OBTs provide stability, even though they may not look nice. Manufacturers try to facelift or re-develop them, but I ask the question: Does a business travel online booking tool really need to be fancy and compete with all the consumer apps out there? Continue reading 

Productive software development requires a management model
Software Development

Productive Software Development Requires a Management Model

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How can productivity and quality in software development be managed effectively and sustainably controlled? A KPI-based management model as response.

In my last article “Three levers for higher productivity in software development“, I used empirical values to show how industrial methods, such as standardization and automation, affect productivity. Thus, software development by industrial means does not aim at mass production of similar products; on the contrary, it enables a high degree of individualization by a small-scale standardization of business-related and technical components. Continue reading 

Travel Industry

NDC the next curtain: NDC will come, the GDS monopoly (or oligopoly) will stay

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In October 2017, I wrote a blog about the technical and commercial challenges of NDC. The title was “The reality behind NDC: Why NDC won’t break down the GDS oligopoly – yet”; A year later, I guess one can say for sure that the last word “yet” of the title can be erased. The New Distribution Capability – or in short NDC – will come that’s for sure, but primarily through the GDSs! Continue reading 

Three levers for higher productivity in software development
Software Development

Three Levers for Higher Productivity in Software Development

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Costs down – quality up: productivity in software development is a triad of development standards, automation and reuse.

In my article “Individual Standard: Mass Customization in Software Development” I pointed out how optimization potentials can be exploited by reusing fine-granular business and technical components. Here, the development of a travel management system served as an example with a total of 2,286 man days saved. Considering this impressive figure, the question arises: To what extent can the productivity in the development of individual systems be increased?

Continue reading 

The reality behind NDC: Why NDC won't break down the GDS oligopoly – yet
Travel Industry

The reality behind NDC: Why NDC won’t break down the GDS oligopoly – yet

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It sounds so easy to use NDC, but the reality is: Not too many bookings are being made. Why?

Airlines including Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia and American have announced direct connect initiatives via NDC. They either introduced charges to book through a GDS or will be offering additional capabilities if booked directly through their NDC interface. When it comes to costs (or certain fares not being available in preferred channels) it affects everybody. It sounds so easy to use NDC, but the reality is: Not too many bookings are being made – especially for business travel. Why is that? Continue reading 

New book: Increasing Productivity of Software Development
Software Development

Increasing Productivity of Software Development – Part 2

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Developed from practice to practice: Today I present the second book of my series “Increasing Productivity of Software Development”. Topics are the application, evaluation and optimization of the KPIs productivity, costs and quality.

While the first book figured out experiences with different measuring methods, my second book entitled “Management Model, Cost Estimation and KPI Improvement” describes a management model based on key performance indicators. Continue reading 

What is the Difference Between Fares, Rates and Tariffs?
Travel Technology

Travel Technology for Dummies: What is the Difference Between Fares, Rates and Tariffs?

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Travel topics explained in a simple way: Today let us understand the difference between fares, rates and tariffs.

As a definition, a fare is usually referenced to in air travel while rates are used with hotels. According to ATPCO (Airline Tariff Publishing Company), a fare is not only the amount a passenger pays, it also contains the conditions for travel at this amount – that are the rules and/or restrictions that must be satisfied in order to qualify for a specific fare. Continue reading 

Increasing Productivity of Software Development – a book presentation
Software Development

Increasing Productivity of Software Development – a Book Launch

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Complex requirements, ever shorter development periods and increasing cost pressure – productivity is an issue of increasing importance in software development. This is the starting point for my book project “Productivity and Performance Measurement – Measurability and Methods”.

As Head of the Competence Center Project Governance, I am responsible for the process engineering for software development at PASS. For several years we have been using key performance indicators as a major information source of our IT management – in more than ten different application environments with more than 500 customers and approx. 250,000 users. In some areas our regularly measured KPIs show significantly higher delivery productivity. Continue reading 

the-difference-between-crs-and-gds-in-the-travel-industry
GDS

The Difference Between CRS and GDS in the Travel Industry

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Earlier I talked about the structure of the travel industry. We saw how the industry can be divided into five parts: Suppliers, inventory management, distribution, sales and market.

Today I would like to just focus on the distribution and the inventory management and therefore on the differences between CRS (central reservation systems) and GDS (global distribution systems).

Continue reading 

Individual Standard: Mass Customization in Software Development
Software Development

Individual Standard: Mass Customization in Software Development

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Industrialization vs. individualization = mass vs. individual production – an equation which has largely lost its validity today. In the industrial sector as well as in software development the future belongs to customized mass production (mass customization).

For a long time, mass production allowed an optimum utilization of operating assets and thus higher quantities, shorter delivery times and lower product prices than individual production which is rather characterized by more attractive and usable products. Continue reading 

Blockchain in Travel for Dummies
Travel Technology

Blockchain in Travel for Dummies: All you Need to Know – for Now

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Blockchain, cryptocurrencies, the Bitcoin & Ether rollercoaster – is it a digital revolution or a fake hype? What does it mean for travel? Are you missing out?

The frequent reader of this blog knows that I’m not blogging every other week in order to boost the Google ranking of this blog, but I rather try to dive deep into topics that may matter and provide as much information as possible to explain the topic. My goal is to create the articles of this blog as a one-stop shop in order to get a comprehensive overview of the topic. So, this time I want to touch another hype topic: Blockchain (in travel). Continue reading 

Travel Technology for Dummies: What is a 'married segment'?
Travel Technology

Travel Technology for Dummies: What is a ‘married segment’?

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Complicated topics explained in a simple way: What is a ‘married segment’ and how is it related to the terms ‘stopover’ and ‘connection’?

A question on my blog post “What Is a Passenger Service System?” made me realize there are still a few terms which are not explained in a simple way on the internet. While there are tons of suggestions what agents can do to take advantage of ‘married segments’, I couldn’t find it explained in a simple way. Hence, I just wrote a dummy article about it. Continue reading 

Uber in Germany after all?
Travel Industry

In brief: Uber in Germany after all?

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A German magazine reports that politics may pave the way for ground transportation intermediaries such as Uber, Lyft etc. to legally challenge the legacy taxi monopoly in Germany – the largest travel market in Europe.

Laws from the 1960s or even 1930s are not appropriate for innovation as part of the digital age. Some laws protect an industry that failed to innovate over years. Also, chauffeur driven ride sharing is currently not allowed in Germany, even though it would relieve heavily congested road significantly. Continue reading 

What Are Incentives, Commission & Overrides?
Travel Technology

Travel Technology for Dummies: What Are Incentives, Commission & Overrides?

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Complicated topics explained in a simple way: Today let us understand what incentives, commission & overrides are.

I spoke a lot about Incentives, commission & overrides in my blog post about the US Airways vs. Sabre trial, where many numbers came to light and provided insight into the money flow here. But this time, I want to focus on what those numbers actually mean. Continue reading 

Travel Technology for Dummies: What is the difference between booking, waitlisting, ticketing, codeshare and interlining?
GDS • Travel Technology

Travel Technology for Dummies: Booking, Waitlist, Ticket, Codeshare & Interlining

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Complicated topics explained in a simple way: What is the difference between booking, waitlisting, ticketing, codeshare and interlining?

Everybody who has ever traveled has come across those terms, but have you ever wondered what they all mean? This article of the series Travel Technology for Dummies will shed some light on what it means if somebody has a booking, is waitlisted or actually has a ticket (or an interline ticket). Continue reading 

Google Focuses on Artificial Intelligence
Travel Industry

As Far as the Eye Can Reach: Google Focuses on Artificial Intelligence

Laura Kempf Laura Kempf    1 Comment

At the Google I/O developer conference that took place in mid-May, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced to around 7,000 guests nothing less than a change of course towards artificial intelligence. But the company’s objectives remain virtually unchanged: to collect data and win over new customers.

The topic dominating the conference: intelligence, or more specifically, artificial intelligence (AI). With the help of AI, devices will understand their users in the future even better than before, making their lives much easier. Continue reading 

What is a Passenger Service System (PSS)?
GDS • Travel Technology

Travel Technology for Dummies: What Is a Passenger Service System?

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Complicated topics explained in a simple way: Last time I explained what a booking reference or PNR is. Today let us talk about the Passenger Service System (PSS).

The PSS usually comprises of the Central Reservation System (CRS), in other words booked inventory, an airline inventory system (free inventory) and a departure control system (DCS). It is basically the technology an airline needs: Continue reading 

Travel Risk Management: Safety first!
Corporate Travel

Travel Risk Management: Safety First

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Political unrest, terror attacks, natural disasters, epidemics – (perceived) insecurity is on the rise among business travelers. This poses new challenges for travel risk management.

Despite all the digital innovations, the number of business trips is increasing year after year: they open doors and drive growth. It is therefore hardly a surprise that in the American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)’s European Business Travel Barometer, around 50 percent of those surveyed said that they classified business trips not as a cost, but as an investment. And costs are also taking a backseat elsewhere: security is increasingly prioritized as the most important aim of travel management. Continue reading