How can GDSs leverage AI to improve car rental bookings and customer service?

1 AI for car rental demand forecasting

One of the key applications of AI for GDSs is to predict the demand for car rental services based on various factors, such as seasonality, location, events, customer preferences, and market trends. This can help GDSs optimize their inventory, pricing, and promotions, as well as provide more accurate and relevant recommendations to travelers. For example, a GDS can use AI to analyze historical and real-time data from multiple sources, such as weather, flight schedules, social media, and online reviews, and generate forecasts for car rental demand at different destinations and times. This can help GDSs adjust their supply and rates accordingly, and offer tailored deals and incentives to travelers based on their needs and preferences.

2 AI for car rental personalization

Another way that GDSs can leverage AI to improve car rental bookings and customer service is to offer more personalized and customized experiences to travelers. By using AI to collect and analyze data from various touchpoints, such as web, mobile, email, and voice, GDSs can gain a deeper understanding of their customers' profiles, behaviors, and preferences. This can help GDSs segment their customers and create personalized offers, recommendations, and communications for each segment. For example, a GDS can use AI to identify the most loyal and valuable customers, and offer them exclusive benefits, such as free upgrades, loyalty points, or discounts. Alternatively, a GDS can use AI to identify the most price-sensitive customers, and offer them dynamic pricing, coupons, or bundling options.

3 AI for car rental customer service

A third way that GDSs can leverage AI to improve car rental bookings and customer service is to use AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants to provide faster and smoother interactions with travelers. By using natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), AI can understand and respond to customers' queries, requests, and feedback in a natural and conversational way. This can help GDSs reduce the need for human agents, lower the costs and errors, and increase the customer satisfaction and retention. For example, a GDS can use AI to enable customers to book, modify, or cancel their car rental reservations via chat or voice, without having to wait on hold or fill out forms. Additionally, a GDS can use AI to provide proactive and timely support to customers, such as sending reminders, alerts, or tips before, during, and after their trips.

4 AI for car rental innovation

A fourth way that GDSs can leverage AI to improve car rental bookings and customer service is to use AI to create new and innovative products and services that can enhance the travel experience and differentiate them from the competition. By using AI to generate insights and ideas from data, GDSs can identify new opportunities and trends, and develop solutions that can meet the changing needs and expectations of travelers. For example, a GDS can use AI to create a smart car rental platform that can offer features such as biometric verification, facial recognition, voice control, self-driving, or electric vehicles. Alternatively, a GDS can use AI to create a gamified car rental platform that can offer features such as rewards, challenges, badges, or leaderboards.

5 Benefits and challenges of AI for car rental

AI can offer many benefits for GDSs and travelers in the car rental industry, such as increased efficiency, accuracy, convenience, loyalty, and revenue. However, there are also some challenges and risks that need to be addressed and overcome, such as data quality, security, privacy, ethics, and regulation. Therefore, GDSs need to adopt a strategic and responsible approach to using AI, and ensure that they have the right data, technology, skills, and governance in place to deliver value and trust to their customers and partners.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?