Booking software has transformed the way tour operators run their businesses. Initially developed as a solution for online bookings, it has now evolved into a comprehensive tool that handles everything from financial reporting and business intelligence to managing capacity, staff, and equipment. With its extensive range of features, it has become an essential component for outfitters across the industry.
For this reason, when it comes to choosing software; security, stability, and performance should be at the forefront of your considerations. In this article, we'll delve into 5 reasons why performance matters and how it can impact your business's success.
Table of ContentsOne of the most obvious reasons performance matters is the user experience. Slow or unresponsive software can frustrate users, leading to dissatisfaction and reduced productivity. When employees or customers encounter laggy applications, it reflects poorly on your brand and can result in lost opportunities.
At Flybook, we have built in an application performance monitor, an integral part of our system, designed to identify and address areas of bottlenecks within the system. It diligently sounds alarms when performance issues arise, instantly alerting our skilled engineers to take action and implement necessary fixes.
In rare situations, outfitters will have events, large groups, popular event releases, and holidays where the system experiences sudden rushes to the servers (think: Taylor Swift ticket release debacle!) Our system will raise alarms concerning CPU load. And, we can address them immediately, thanks in large part to the way we architected our servers to accommodate a massive load.
A recent example: one outfitter sold out with a single reservation serving 4,000 people, resulting in a substantial system load. (every time that reservation is accessed, the Flybook is checking for waivers, client data, the latest invoice updates... etc.) Remarkably, the architecture of the system is smart enough to recognize the load and address it. The reservation is de-normalized, a technique that essentially separates out the reservation in it's own group from the rest of the database. The system is then capable of running at high performance for all other users and reservations.
In a highly competitive market, software that performs well can give your business a significant edge. Innovation drives improvements in functionality and user experience, ensuring that software can meet the evolving needs and expectations of its users. This includes addressing security vulnerabilities and integrating with new software like OTAs to grow revenue opportunities for outfitters.
With regular changes to the software, the potential for bugs are introduced.
Our Test-Driven Development (TDD) team is a powerhouse of quality assurance, boasting a formidable arsenal of over 7000 tests meticulously crafted to ensure the reliability of our software. What's truly impressive is that these tests can be executed in just two minutes, clocking in at a blazing-fast 277 milliseconds per run. This efficiency is crucial during our deployment process, where our dedicated build server diligently runs all tests before any new code is deployed. The commitment to clean code and a meticulously maintained staging environment further strengthens our development process. Additionally, the ability to swiftly roll back to a stable state in case of any issues ensures that we maintain the highest standards of software integrity and customer satisfaction.
As your business grows, your software needs to scale accordingly. Performance issues can impede scalability, preventing you from accommodating a larger customer base or expanding your operations. Flybook has been specifically designed for companies who are adding locations, adding features like lodging or rentals, and being able to do so without the impact on system performance.
A simple example of this is in how the Flybook has been designed to handle multiple locations. Alternative software has a single company login with all activities, rentals and offerings loaded in. For location X, they have calendar filters to view only their relevant bookings. When dealing with larger operations, the system is trying to read too much data, and switching from activity to activity takes a long time, causing frustration among users who are in a hurry to run daily operations.
Flybook went another route with performance in mind. Every location has their own login, and unqiue offerings set up within each location. However, the data is all connected. Administrative users can pull and view reports, dashboards and more in a single view across all locations. The result is an extremely snappy and quick experience for operations daily and a connected view for owners and managers. The best of both worlds.
Performance is closely linked to security. Slow or outdated software may not receive timely security updates, leaving it vulnerable to cyber threats. Efficient software is more likely to receive ongoing support and patching.
Performance isn't just a nice-to-have feature; it's a fundamental aspect of software selection. Whether you're choosing software for internal use or offering it to customers, its performance can impact user satisfaction, productivity, and overall success. When evaluating software options, prioritize performance alongside other criteria such as functionality, security, and cost-effectiveness. By selecting high-performance software, you can ensure that your business operates efficiently, remains competitive, and delivers exceptional experiences to both employees and customers.