Kayak for Business has added new features in an update to its Enterprise tool, including integration of airline APIs and the launch of a payment function, the company announced.
The updated offering — built from its collaboration with travel industry blockchain technology provider Blockskye and pioneering customer PwC U.S. — enables clients to manage bookings on the Kayak for Business platform, with airlines or with Kayak agents, the company said. Companies can control what is displayed per their travel policies and will receive servicing and reporting on all bookings, according to Kayak.
For travelers, the platform was designed to create a shopping experience similar to airline websites, with their loyalty status reflected while shopping, the company said.
Kayak for Business also is integrating the newly launched Blockskye Pay, which uses the company's blockchain technology to automatically charge expenses to companies rather than requiring employees to file expense reports. The system can manage unused ticket values across profiles, according to Kayak.
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"Business travel is a $1.4 trillion market thick with intermediaries that add cost and hassle," Blockskye co-founder and co-CEO Michael Share said in a statement. "We've been listening to travelers, travel suppliers and procurement teams, and they all have an objective in common: They want to lower the cost of administration and distribution."
Airlines working directly with Kayak for Business for the Enterprise tool include American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Southwest director of B2B strategy Eric Hall said in a statement the initial work with PwC U.S. has offered "a better booking and expense experience" and that the carrier is "looking forward to bringing this solution to more business travel customers."