But implementing NDC isn't trouble-free. Airlines, and travel technology companies truly face difficulties changing over to new systems, managing content, and delivering the seamless experience customers expect. That is where OpenNDC plays its part.
What is OpenNDC, how does OpenNDC operate, and how OpenNDC identifies major market challenges to solve real-world problems in the travel industry are discussed in this blog.
Understanding NDC and Its Significance
The New Distribution Capability is an XML-based standard for data transmission that enables airlines to deliver richer, more personalized content directly to travel agencies, corporate purchasers, and other intermediaries.
Short of it, NDC offers airlines more control over the sale and presentation of their products, but adopting NDC usually means breaching technology and operational barriers.
What is OpenNDC?
OpenNDC is a new-generation Travel Tech Solution that is specifically built to make NDC integration and distribution easier. OpenNDC works as a middleware platform, connecting airlines and travel sellers via a single API and easy-to-use dashboard.
Rather than dealing with complex, disconnected integrations with every airline API, travel companies can utilize OpenNDC to receive aggregated NDC content—combined with GDS and direct channel content—streamlining operations and enhancing the traveler experience.
How OpenNDC Functions
To understand why OpenNDC is gaining traction across the entire travel tech market, it's useful to break down how OpenNDC functions:
1. Multi-Source Aggregated Content Access
OpenNDC aggregates with NDC-capable airline APIs, legacy GDSs, and direct airline connections. This multi-source aggregation gives travel sellers end-to-end visibility into all content—no matter its source.
2. Single Unified API
Instead of developing customized integrations for each airline, travel companies can access OpenNDC's one API for all data exchanges, reducing time and development cost.
3. Real-Time Pricing and Availability
With content directly fetched from airlines, OpenNDC ensures that travel sellers always present the latest fares, seat maps, and ancillary services to customers.
4. Dynamic Offer Management
OpenNDC facilitates real-time fare personalization, enabling airlines to tailor offers based on customer profiles, market conditions, and loyalty programs.
How OpenNDC Solves Real-World Travel Industry Challenges
While NDC presents immense opportunity, its adoption is often linked with real-world challenges. OpenNDC is designed specifically to meet these challenges head-on:
Challenge 1: Complex API Integrations
Accessing tens of other airlines' APIs is enormous technical effort. OpenNDC eliminates this through its pre-configured connectors and centralized management features.
Problem 2: Differing Fare Content
Travel companies traditionally experience price differences between platforms. OpenNDC unifies fare content by gathering it from various sources and serving it in a unified format.
Problem 3: Visibility into Limited Offers
Legacy GDS platforms do not always show ancillary products or fare bundles. OpenNDC enables full NDC retailing capabilities, and airlines have the ability to offer rich, branded content on all distribution channels.
Issue 4: Distribution Cost Pressures
OpenNDC reduces reliance on costly GDS bookings by encouraging direct connections through the use of NDC, reducing distribution costs for airlines and travel sellers.
OpenNDC doesn't react to problems, but rather acts ahead of them. Through extensive industry cohesiveness and observation of data, the platform regularly updates to stay in tandem with market requirements.
Airline Partner Feedback: OpenNDC closely collaborates with airlines to receive pain point feedback and ensure integration without interruptions.
Industry Trend Monitoring: Staying ahead of the curve regarding travel retail trends, OpenNDC refreshes its feature set to meet changing needs.
Customer Behavior Analysis: The site uses usage data to create more efficient booking and maximize content viewing on various devices.
Why OpenNDC?
If you are still asking yourself, why OpenNDC, the benefits are self-evident:
Faster NDC Deployment: OpenNDC reduces go-live times from months to weeks.
Scalability: If you're an insurgent OTA or a worldwide TMC, OpenNDC scales as your business does.
Real-Time Insights: Built-in analytics provide pricing gap detection, conversion opportunities, and booking behavior.
Future-Proof Technology: OpenNDC is regularly upgraded to meet evolving IATA specs and industry demands.
Who Should Utilize OpenNDC?
Airlines seeking to optimize NDC distribution and control how content is presented.
Travel Management Companies (TMCs) seeking to provide clients with customized business travel solutions.
Consolidators seeking to distribute multi-airline content from one platform.
Conclusion: Simplifying NDC, Solving Distribution
The New Distribution Capability has the potential to revolutionize airline retailing, but only when accompanied by the right suite of tools. OpenNDC tears down the obstacles to NDC adoption by providing travel sellers with easy access to dynamic, accurate, and personalized airline data.
From the understanding of what is OpenNDC, seeing how OpenNDC works, and understanding how OpenNDC identifies key market challenges, one can tell that this platform is the solution of choice for addressing real travel sector challenges.