Centralized Online Reservation

The term "CRS" in the tourism and aviation industry has been coined alongside the term "GDS." Generally, it refers to the use of electronic tools to increase sales and provide quick and accurate information about the inventory and prices of products and services available for reservation. For further familiarity, let's first examine these modifications and related terms in the tourism industry.

larixweb crs

GDS: This term is an acronym for the phrase "Global Distribution System," which means a worldwide distribution system. It is widely used in the international arena, particularly in the tourism industry, especially in airlines and hospitality. A GDS can be considered as a very large database where information about the inventory and prices of airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, cruise ships, and more related to all airlines, all hotels, and tourism service providers that are members of that GDS is stored and regularly updated in real-time. Typically, it is made available to travel agents and large travel agencies that make bulk purchases at lower prices. Therefore, membership in a GDS is not suitable and cost-effective for small travel agents and agencies.

CRS: This term is an acronym for "Computer Reservation System" and, in some other definitions, is referred to as the acronym for "Centralized Reservation System." The primary goal of a CRS is to provide accurate and timely information about the inventory and prices of products and services that are available for reservation. Typically, a CRS must be connected to one or more GDS (Global Distribution System) and reservation systems for airlines and hotels that are not members of the GDS. It fetches real-time information about prices and inventory and presents it to consumers or displays it for them to use, to fulfill its mission according to the provided definition.

OTA: This term is an acronym for "Online Travel Agency," meaning an online agency that provides a wide range of travel services to customers, such as purchasing plane tickets, hotel room reservations, tour packages, car rentals, and more. One of the advantages of online travel agencies (OTAs) is that users can view, compare, select, and purchase rates and services from various providers. As expected, an OTA needs to be fed through one or more CRS (Centralized Reservation System) to display diverse and real-time information to its users.

larixweb crs

Larixweb has designed a comprehensive software system with a distributed architecture pattern, aligned with the concepts mentioned above. Through this system, a range of reservable services can be provisioned, aggregated, and distributed. The system enables the utilization of a complete B2B2C model in the service and reservation sector. Within this system, specific policies and regulations can be defined for users at each level, from the supply layer to distribution. Prices, financial calculations, commissions, and fees are dynamically calculated and displayed based on these policies during the purchase and cancellation processes. Moreover, the system supports the creation and distribution of various credits by authorized suppliers, providing financial backing for credit processes and helping address many financial challenges and discrepancies among suppliers.

The centralized reservation system developed by Larixweb is not limited to the tourism sector, and it can be utilized for launching any business that offers reservable services. This system can be applied in various industries such as hotels, ecotourism, lodge reservations, tour sales, flight ticketing, medical clinics, online appointment systems, beauty salons, shopping malls, and more. The architecture and design of the system create a marketplace for service providers. Additionally, lightweight versions of the system are suitable for smaller, independent businesses. To view a demo version and receive more information, you can contact our experts to schedule in-person or online sessions.