MakeMyTrip Invests In Travel Tech Company Bitla Software

MakeMyTrip has invested an undisclosed amount in Bengaluru-based Bitla Software.

Bitla Software is a travel-focused technology provider with SaaS, cloud and mobile-based solutions to help customers expand their businesses.

The company’s technologies are widely used domestically and internationally by bus operators, bus GDSs, online ticketing portals, hoteliers, holiday tour operators and cargo and logistics companies.

It will use the latest fundraise to rapidly develop and expand its suite of travel focused technology products, said Dasharatham Bitla, Founder & CEO, Bitla Software.

Deep Kalra, chairman and group CEO, MakeMyTrip, added, “Our latest investment in Bitla Software is aimed at providing an extensive suite of technology products and solutions for the bus and hotel supplier ecosystem, which will further strengthen our strong market position.”

MakeMyTrip has earlier invested in companies such as GoFro, HolidayIQ, Inspirock, ixigo.com, Simplotel, and Mygola.com.

Bitla Software: Aiming To Disrupt

Launched in 2007, Bitla Software has a proprietary software HolidaySimply, which is said to be an innovative tour operator. With HolidaySimply, one can automate processes in the travel agency, use it to sell products through its web page or to establish better business cooperation with its partners.

The company mentioned on its LinkedIn page, “We have been creating advanced information technology solutions for tourism and travel agencies for more than a decade. Our vision is to become a global provider of world-class solutions for the tourism industry.”

The platform offers advanced Information Technology solutions for holiday online booking engine, OTA/ agency profile management, social network integration, automatic email and SMS notifications, mobile bookings, website CMS, inventory management, back-office & accounting among others.

Goomo, Travayoo, StoutWeb, Tavisca, are few other names operational in the Indian travel tech segment.

How Tech is Transforming Travel

According to a June 2017 Google India-BCG report, the country’s overall travel market is expected to become a $48 Bn industry within the next three years.

The growing tech startup ecosystem of the country is making India one of the few markets where travel is absorbing technology at a rapid pace to enhance the consumer experience.

Whether its AI, ML or IOT, tech startups have swept into every aspect of tourism from booking tickets and hotels to improve the hotel stay of the guests.

Maruti Techlabs founder Mukund Makadia quoted in his earlier article on Inc42, chatbots in hospitality is changing the way booking inquiries are handled and visitors are converted into patron customers.

In views of Mukund, by establishing artificial intelligence in the hospitality industry, hotels can create more significant opportunities to deliver excellent guest-friendly services ranging from matching guest preferences, suggesting books or music, nearby sports club to complement customers’ taste, all the way to automatically alerting hotel staff for personalised meal choices, special privileges and complimentary services, etc.

Wearable devices, voice technology and augmented as well as virtual reality are next in line to further streamline the travel and hospitality industry.