Empty seats on a bus are one of the most recurring problems for many bus companies. Each seat that stops selling represents a loss and vulnerability in long-term operations. Far from being a new problem in the transportation industry, this was precisely the one that inspired US airlines to seek a solution in the late 1970s. The result is what is now known as Revenue Management.
What is Revenue Management?
Revenue Management is a technique that consists of obtaining historical data such as schedules, destinations, pricing of higher demand, and occupancy rate. This information is analyzed to find trends and implement sales strategies that maximize revenue.
In other words, it is a business process capable of generating forecasts and proposing strategies and price initiatives on time, promoting the growth and profitability of your business, based on an understanding of the company, the environment, the competition, and consumers, along with analysis tools and data crossing.
It provides a wide view of the business because it involves different areas of the organization and consolidates information from various sources to generate proposals and make decisions. Thus, Revenue Management replaces the basic models for defining sales prices, so that neither sales nor brand prestige is depreciated.
What is the Revenue Management process?
The methodology begins with the collection and storage of historical inventory data, such as prices, demand, high seasons, and other constant factors in the line operation. Market segmentation is then performed to set prices and maximize revenue.
Subsequently, demand, inventory, and market share forecasts are carried out to finally combine the data and make decisions to set the correct prices for the right customer at the right time and through the right channel. The Revenue Management process is cyclical, so it is in constant feedback and updating.
2022 was an important year for Reservamos SaaS. That inspired us to capture in a fun way our achievements with the bus companies that have trusted us, and thanks to the great team we have put together, all specialists and passionate about the sector! And also share with you the new challenges that are coming up. We are very excited!
To do this, we thought of a different way to share our Reservamos SaaS Annual Report 2022. We turned it into a digital journey that you will surely enjoy. Hoping it will be very inspiring for your company.
So, don’t wait any longer to discover everything the Reservamos SaaS ecosystem can do for you and your travelers. And be part of the bus sector’s digital transformation.
In the links below, you will find our report in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Click on your preferred language, enter your name, and access the report.
With a range of routes throughout central and western Mexico, Grupo Flecha Amarilla faced the challenge of boosting its digital channels and creating a successful omnichannel experience for its Primera Plus bus line.
This challenge also had an important impact on their marketing strategy, since they needed to create a full experience to boost downloads of their application and increase the conversion rate.
The digital leap
With the help of Reservamos Saas technology, in 2018 Primera Plus began its journey towards digitizing its box office. The first step was to carry out an A/B Test to test the performance of the Primera Plus page against the Reservamos SaaS e-commerce solution. This was done by dividing the traffic from the brand’s standard sales funnel and the e-commerce created by Reservamos SaaS by 50%, respectively.
During the A/B Test period, Reservamos SaaS e-commerce doubled the number of transactions starting from the same traffic base. At the end of the test, Primera Plus decided to implement the e-commerce solution, with the aim of strengthening its digital channel and increasing its conversion rate, through an optimized purchase funnel and a friendly user experience. This was reflected in an increase in the volume of transactions by +50% compared to the same period of the previous year.
Based on the good results obtained, at the end of that same year, Primera Plus started a second stage to bring all the functions of its e-commerce and make them available to the mobile devices of its travelers, through the Apps solution from Reservamos SaaS.
This helped Primera Plus to standardize all channels under the same technology, developed exclusively for the bus sector, and maintain control of its digital operation. In addition to offering greater benefits to its travelers, and receiving constant support from the Reservamos SaaS team.
The same experience wherever you are
The biggest challenge for Primera Plus was to offer the same level of purchasing experience both on its website and on the mobile app. In addition, to have the technology that would allow the app to be ranked among the best rated in the industry, both in Android and iOS operating systems.
The Reservamos SaaS team focused on offering the same functionalities, to make the shopping experience for travelers easier, more dynamic, and more flexible. In this way, it was possible to build an omnichannel strategy that allowed the bus line to maintain effective and unique communication with its traveler, through all available platforms.
Starting with the optimization of the shopping experience, the Primera Plus Marketing team focused its communication efforts on promoting the download of the mobile app and thus directing traffic from the website to the app. The performance of the app created by Reservamos SaaS generated an average growth of 70% in apps downloaded for iOS and 35% for Android.
The challenge of connecting with digital travelers
In just two years, Primera Plus went from having an app with a 3.5 rating in app stores to reaching 79% of users who rated the version of the app developed by Reservamos SaaS with five stars. In addition, the recurrence of visits and purchases by the same user over time has been greater through the app; since on average they have more than 100% retention than any other digital channel.
Through the implementation of Reservamos SaaS tools and solutions, the Primera Plus app started with a 26% conversion rate, and as it spread among travelers, it reached a 52% conversion rate.
From the beginning, Primera Plus’s strategy has been focused on taking its traveler to a flexible, dynamic purchasing experience.
Through technology capable of adapting to their needs, and above all, simplifying processes to give them what the traveler needs so much, the time to enjoy their trip.
Reservamos SaaS is that ally, which helps bus lines to transform the purchasing experience, make it easier and solve travelers’ lives, from the moment they start their search until the end of their trip.
Contact us at [email protected], and let your bus company be part of this digital transformation.
Before boarding a bus, digital travelers start a search to choose their destination, and compare prices, routes, and schedules, to make sure they select the best option available. According to a study conducted by Comscore, in Mexico alone, 48% of users browse travel sites, and 79% of searches are made through mobile phones.
Anticipating that online search and guaranteeing a suitable, flexible, and dynamic purchasing experience can be the difference between winning or losing a passenger.
But, how to ensure the digital presence of your bus line? In addition to having an eCommerce, it is essential to know the needs of the digital traveler to adopt a solution that is capable of solving them at the right time.
The bridge to connect with digital travelers
ETN Turistar, a Mexican luxury bus line, focused on passenger transportation, parcels, and light messaging, with more than 70 destinations distributed in 23 states of the Mexican Republic, had the challenge of promoting its online channel and connecting with digital travelers, in a more effective way.
Before implementing Reservamos SaaS solutions, ETN Turistar had an eCommerce with low conversion, only 5 out of 100 travelers made a purchase online. In addition, the acceptance of payments through bank cards was at 50%.
Part of providing the most appropriate solution was understanding the frictions in the purchase process, to improve them and ensure an optimal and effective experience for users.
Dynamic eCommerce
The first step was to implement an A/B Test to understand the performance of the brand’s standard sales funnels against the Reservamos SaaS eCommerce solution. That made it possible to comprehend and detect user friction during the shopping experience.
While the standard channel showed a low conversion from visit to purchase and friction in the acceptance of card payments, the eCommerce designed by Reservamos SaaS showed an increase in revenue of +63%.
Based on the results, it was possible to understand the obstacles travelers faced when making an online purchase and create strategies to increase conversion.
In addition, the constant accompaniment by the Reservamos SaaS team made it possible to implement improvements in different areas. From marketing actions: how to optimize the purchase process, and send personalized messages to travelers; to the implementation of repurchase processes; and monitoring of the execution and performance of the strategy.
From this, the Reservamos SaaS eCommerce registered:
75% Payment acceptance with bank cards.
57% Improvement in the purchasing experience.
+27% Increase in transactions and sales.
Through a digital channel that provides an easy, secure, and dynamic purchasing experience, it is possible to grow online and not just at the box office. Since its implementation, ETN Turistar eCommerce has gained more and more strength among its users.
Outlining the path to innovation is possible with experts’ help. With Reservamos SaaS technology, it is easier for you to connect with digital travelers and anticipate their needs, with an assertive, agile, competitive, and friendly service. Contact us to learn more about our technological infrastructure: [email protected]
Has it happened to you that you want to pack your bags and escape to your favorite destination for a few days, but you still haven’t defined your entire itinerary? It would be amazing to have the freedom to buy your bus ticket and choose your day and time of return during your trip, right? It is becoming necessary to have flexible options in the face of new travel trends arising from remote work and digital nomads looking for travel options that suit their needs.
Through Reservamos SaaS technology, your eCommerce platform adapts to your digital traveler to provide a dynamic and flexible shopping experience, according to their needs, throughout the purchase process.
With Open Ticket, your digital traveler can choose their destination, select this option and redeem their bus ticket when they decide, without having to go to the box office, in just a few simple steps through the eCommerce.
Open Ticket allows you to:
Boost the sale of round tickets.
Raise conversion in your sales funnels.
Acquire a competitive advantage vs. air travel.
Generate greater satisfaction among digital travelers.
Make the ticket exchange from the eCommerce.
Adapting to your digital traveler is much easier with Reservamos SaaS technology.
