Leading Asian airline and founding Star Alliance member, , while achieving cost reductions of 30% in new service implementation using SITA’s Integration Platform.
Thai needed to roll-out new services such as Internet booking, self-service check-in, and online redemption of frequent flyer points while at the same looking for 30% cost reductions in new service implementation by optimising the airline’s IT capacity.
Captain Sopit Pokasoowan, Thai Airways Vice President, Information Technology Service, said, “As one of Asia’s leading airlines we value the ability to deliver new and improved services quickly to both our customers and staff. Selecting and implementing the SITA Integration Platform was a significant and valuable strategic decision for our airline. It has delivered immediate results and benefits to our business, and will continue to do so in the future.”
SITA’s Integration Platform, the leading airline web-services solution has helped Thai:
- Cut the cost of new service implementation by 30%
- Rapidly launch services across a range of different customer contact channels, including Internet, mobile phones and self-service kiosks
- Introduce e-tracking of cargo shipments
- Leverage existing technology to maximize ROI
- Streamline information exchange with Thai’s Star Alliance partners, GDS’s, tour operators and airline personnel
SITA’s solution overlays a new open system Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) on Thai’s existing systems to create a highly flexible, robust and cost-effective platform from which to launch new services. Thai’s ability to create new services is no longer constrained by aging technology, and the airline can now easily manage ongoing development of customer services offerings in-house, cutting costs and substantially improving time to market.
Richard Stokes, SITA Senior Vice President for Passenger Travel Solutions, said, “By supporting the introduction of SOA Web Services onto existing systems, SITA’s Integration Platform linked Thai’s legacy infrastructure to a next-generation application architecture, avoiding the need for large-scale, costly upgrades.
“That has allowed the airline to leverage two man-years’ worth of IT investment increasing the lifespan of assets like its mainframe system, which can still serve as a valuable source of data for newer applications. It also allows Thai to gradually replace legacy systems in the future, without ever compromising its investment in new applications.”
Key business services developed on the SITA Integration Platform include:
- Internet check-in: by offering passengers the convenience of checking themselves in online, Thai has achieved significant savings in airport staff and facilities
- Online Frequent Flyer self service: Thai now allows its Royal Orchid Plus members to manage their accounts online. Frequent flyers can check their current mileage, change their PIN, and process flight and hotel award redemptions, mileage upgrade awards and award nominations, over the Internet.
- E-cargo services: new systems enable real-time tracking of cargo shipments and online availability of cargo flight schedules
- Online distribution to tour operators: Thai has substantially cut sales costs to this important distribution channel
- Self-service staff management: Thai staff now benefit from fast online access to personnel information, as well as a new integrated resource tracking system to streamline the preparation of work schedules.
