Amadeus is working with Microsoft and Accenture to pilot a new AI-powered digital assistant to help business travelers use the Cytric Easy travel and spending platform through Microsoft Teams
The project targets business travelers
Amadeus and Microsoft, which last year began integrating Cytric into the Microsoft 365 suite of tools, will use generative AI to help business travelers complete “complex travel-related tasks” using what we call it “natural language”.
The pilot with Accenture will see Microsoft technology, including its Azure Open AI service, Microsoft 365 and Teams, be leveraged to enable travelers to plan, book and manage their trips via a chatbot, which will use a “conversational style” to ask clarifications and suggest “most appropriate” travel or itinerary options.
“The assistant will align travelers’ preferences with employer policies for a more efficient and cost-effective experience,” Amadeus explained in a statement.
Rudy Daniello, Executive Vice President of Amadeus Cytric Solutions, said: “The new AI-powered generative chatbot will offer an improved way to book business travel, moving from a standard sequential display with predetermined filters to a dynamic and interactive conversational interface powered by ChatGPT.
“Once fully realized, business travelers will be able to book trips even more easily, saving time.”
Miguel Flecha, chief executive of Accenture, said the collaboration “accelerates the integration of AI-driven generative solutions in the travel industry, driving innovation and reinvention.”
A Cytric Easy plugin for Microsoft 365 Copilot is also in development, which is the AI assistant functionality for Microsoft 365 apps and services. This will allow colleagues to match and book travel itineraries within a single workflow in Microsoft 365 using natural language “prompts.”
Feliz Montpellier, general manager of Worldwide Partners at Microsoft, added: “AI is reshaping industries like travel and transforming the way we work. Through expanded integrations between Microsoft and Amadeus, we will create more value for businesses and much more personalized and productive experiences for travelers.
