CANADA/UK. GuestLogix, the leading global provider of onboard store technology to airlines and the passenger travel industry, has announced a partnership with Skytrac, a food service and distribution provider to rail and travel operators.
The partnership aims to provide rail operators with a comprehensive, secure onboard transaction processing solution to grow sales and revenue opportunities. In addition it will deliver a merchandising platform that gives passengers access to more services and destination-related items.
“Further expansion into the rail sector is a logical and lucrative move for GuestLogix,” said GuestLogix President and CEO Tom Douramakos.
“With a channel partner such as Skytrac we can penetrate the rail market quickly and efficiently, and provide rail operators with the same onboard store technology that we have successfully implemented within the airline industry.
“Skytrac represents a market opportunity of more than 100 million passenger trips per year. Because of our proven track record with airlines, rail operators are looking to us for the tools and technology they need to grow their onboard retail business.”
PROVIDING RAIL OPERATORS WITH TOOLS TO GROW ONBOARD SALES
Combining GuestLogix’s “˜OnTouch’ technology and merchandising platform with Skytrac’s catering services will streamline rail operators’ onboard retailing processes, the companies said.
GuestLogix claimed that its onboard retailing technology solution offers superior inventory management capabilities, enabling rail operators to identify purchasing patterns and the best product mixes based on individual traveller need and to better control inventory shrinkage.
The solution can also create additional sales opportunities for rail operators through the OnTouch merchandising platform, which includes a selection of destination-based products and services such as ground transportation, entertainment, shopping.
Rail operators can now accept new payment methods such as debit or credit cards in a secure environment that is certified by UK – APACS. As such, average sales transactions through credit cards are expected to increase by more than+50% over cash-based transactions, according to GuestLogix research.
However, rail operators still face a major challenge in credit card acceptance – losing connectivity. This is something the GuestLogix solution can overcome, the company claimed. By processing transactions in both real-time and offline environments, or “˜delayed real-time’, GuestLogix enables operators to process credit card payments in any environment.
“The partnership with GuestLogix is a new and exciting progression, enhancing the services provided by the Skytrac Group,” said Skytrac Managing Director Peter Whittaker. “GuestLogix gives us an advanced technological solution that spans from warehouse to railway carriage to passenger.
“Enabling the sale of products and services through secure payment methods, and creating a consistent experience for our clients and their rail passengers, GuestLogix’s OnTouch technology and merchandising platform provides us with real-time analytics to quickly identify customer preferences so that rail operators can avoid unnecessary inventory and shrinkage. We can determine exactly what passengers want and need – not just what is available onboard at that time.”
Through the partnership, GuestLogix and Skytrac expect to see a significant increase in both transaction and average transaction values. GuestLogix forecasts a sizeable demand from other rail operators in the UK and Europe once the OnTouch platform is fully integrated into Skytrac’s operations.
ABOUT SKYTRAC
The Skytrac Group has been supporting the travel industry for more than 15 years, providing catering and onboard retail products, product development and packaging solutions for travel operators. Skytrac is recognised as one of the most efficient warehousing and logistics services to the industry, working with airlines and travel operators including FlyBe, Virgin Atlantic, Easyjet, Loganair, Thomson Airways, Thomas Cook, LSG SkyChefs, Gate Gourmet and Virgin Atlantic. The company recently expanded into the rail sector, providing catering logistics for First Scot Rail and Transpennine. More information can be found at www.skytrac.co.uk
ABOUT GUESTLOGIX
GuestLogix is a leading global provider of onboard store technology and merchandising which helps airlines, railways and other travel operators create, manage and control onboard retail environments tailored to their needs and their passengers. Serving about 40% of the global airline passenger traffic, GuestLogix has become a trusted onboard transaction processing partner to travel operators around the world. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and maintains sales and support facilities in the US, UK, Singapore and South Korea. GuestLogix is publicly traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange.
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