Woman Technopreneur of the Year 2023
Dr. Harshani Perera’s impressive journey in the male-dominated fields of IT and travel, began as a Software Engineer at Virtusa and Zaizi. Her entrepreneurial path took shape during her PhD studies in Information Technology at Murdoch University. The Co-Founder of Inqbaytor, a revolutionary piece of travel tech, Harshani aims to help travellers simplify the booking experience through Ticket Gadget Travel Super App, the largest online B2B travel platform in Sri Lanka and crazyjets.com, the largest online B2C travel platform in Sri Lanka. Building their own solutions in-house to adapt to dynamic environments they act as their own aggregator, consolidator, and travel seller, ensuring everything is in sync. This gives the company direct access to exclusive technology partnerships with airlines, offering unique content, competitive fares, and a distinct industry edge.
Q: Can you share the founding story and what inspired you to enter the travel tech industry?
When I was a software engineer, I had to travel to an European conference. The company's travel agency arranged a 9-hour transit without considering my vegan diet. This made me wonder if I could have planned the trip better and cheaper with better resources. That negative experience inspired me to use technology to improve outdated travel management practices.
Q: Can you briefly tell us more about what services Inqbaytor offers?
Recognised as the largest and fastest-growing travel tech company in Sri Lanka, Inqbaytor takes pride in housing the largest B2C and B2B online travel brands under our umbrella.
Ticket Gadget Travel Super App is the largest online B2B travel platform in Sri Lanka. Ticket Gadget stands out as the most esteemed and reliable online travel retailer for travel companies and corporates. crazyjets.com is the largest online B2C travel platform in Sri Lanka. Our commitment lies in delivering a next-generation travel retail experience through cutting-edge technology. We are dedicated to revolutionizing the distribution of travel services, bringing competitive, exclusive fares and content. We are the preferred platform for airlines to distribute their inventories and promote fares to travellers.
Q:What do you believe gives Inqbaytor a competitive edge over other travel tech companies?
Unlike other competitors, we don't use out-of-the-box solutions. We build our own solutions in-house to adapt to dynamic environments. While most companies rely on intermediaries for airline inventories, we act as our own aggregator, consolidator, and travel seller, ensuring everything is in sync. This gives us direct access to exclusive technology partnerships with airlines, offering unique content, competitive fares, and a distinct industry edge. In fact, Inqbaytor is the first and only company in Sri Lanka certified for Singapore Airlines' KrisConnect Direct NDC API and Emirates' Gateway Direct NDC API.
Q: Can you elaborate on the vision behind Inqbaytor and its journey toward reengineering the distribution of travel services?
Inqbaytor's vision and journey towards reengineering the distribution of travel services is centered on democratising travel services, making them more accessible to empower consumers. Through our user-friendly and technologically advanced platform, we are committed to regular updates and improvements based on user feedback and technological advancements, ensuring a seamless and satisfying experience for all users.
Q:How does your mission of democratising and simplifying travel services align with the current digital landscape?
Our mission to democratise and simplify travel services aligns seamlessly with the current digital landscape. By leveraging technology and prioritizing user-centric design, we aim to offer travel experiences that are accessible, efficient, and enjoyable for all.
Q:What are the unique features of Ticket Gadget that make it stand out as the world's first travel agent super app?
Becoming a travel seller can be a daunting and expensive process, involving numerous intermediaries, regulations, and outdated technology. However, with Ticket Gadget, there is no need to go through the lengthy process of obtaining and maintaining regulatory requirements such as ticketing authority. Simply download the app and get started.
One of the main challenges for travel sellers is accessing all airline content in one place. Ticket Gadget removes this obstacle by eliminating the need for travel sellers to secure individual contracts with airlines, hotel chains, cruise companies, and GDS. Everything is accessible in one place.
Another common issue for travel sellers is accessing global fares locally. Ticket Gadget eliminates the need to find travel partners worldwide to access global fares. The app provides user-friendly interfaces for searching, quoting, booking, ticketing, ancillary upselling, and automated change notifications, all without confusing jargon.
Q: Can you describe how Crazy Jets simplifies the booking process and offers competitive rates compared to conventional travel platforms?
At Crazy Jets, we've made booking flights easier and more affordable than ever before. We have eliminated the hassle of comparing fares across different airline websites - we've brought all inventories to one place without any intermediaries, giving users access to exclusive content and competitive fares. Plus, with our convenient "fly now, pay later" options, users can take control of their travel plans without breaking the bank.
Q: What role does cutting-edge technology play in delivering the next-generation travel retail experience you promise?
It offers highly personalised travel recommendations and itineraries ensuring a more tailored and relevant experience for each traveller. Real-time availability, competitive and dynamic pricing, and seamless booking experiences as well as live updates and notifications keep users engaged and informed.
Q: How does it feel to be recognized as the largest and fastest-growing travel tech company in Sri Lanka, and what does the Platinum Award from SriLankan Airlines mean to you?
Being recognized as the largest and fastest-growing travel tech company in Sri Lanka is a tremendous honour and a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation of the entire Inqbaytor team. This recognition reflects our commitment to excellence, our ability to adapt to market needs, and our focus on delivering exceptional value to our customers. It validates our vision and strategy, providing us with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The Platinum Award from SriLankan Airlines is the ultimate symbol of being successful in the Sri Lanka market. We are incredibly proud to have made history by becoming the first “travel tech” company to win this award. This prestigious accolade is not only a recognition of our achievements and that we are making significant contribution to the travel industry, but also a symbol of the strong partnership and trust we have built with our National Carrier. These accolades boost the morale of our team members, inspiring them to continue their hard work and dedication. It reinforces the importance of their roles in our collective success. It enhances our credibility and reputation in the industry, building greater success among our partners, users and stakeholders.
Q:What strategies have you employed to become the preferred platform for airlines to distribute their inventories and promote fares?
Developing seamless API integrations and with a user-friendly interface allows airlines to easily connect their inventory systems despite whether it is GDS, NDC or direct with Inqbaytor’s core system which connects to both our B2C and B2B platforms. Given our significant reach, airlines use us to increase their visibility via prime sponsorship placements and prominent search result visibility. Our collaborative efforts with airlines also extend to co-branded marketing efforts, leveraging the combined brand strength to attract more customers. Moreover, we form strategic partnerships with airlines to seamlessly integrate their loyalty programmes and exclusive offers into the platform, encouraging repeat bookings and enhancing customer loyalty.
Q: How has Inqbaytor impacted the travel industry in Sri Lanka, particularly in terms of passenger movement and travel service distribution?
Inqbaytor has disrupted the travel industry in Sri Lanka by democratising travel services. Our platform has empowered travel companies nationwide, even in rural areas, to enhance their operations by embracing cutting-edge technologies. Through our platform, airlines have significantly reduced their distribution costs by bypassing traditional methods and directly displaying their inventories. As the largest and fastest-growing online travel company in Sri Lanka, we are proud to have facilitated the highest number of passenger movements for
FYE 2022-23.
