Positive Disruptors


Servy and Inflyter partner to create online marketplace

In this column dedicated to innovative thinking and action across the travel business, we report on an initiative by Collinson-backed companies Servy and Inflyter to create a seamless online shopping and pre-order service for the global market.

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In a move that combines the strengths of two players with expertise in airport ecommerce, hospitality platform Servy and travel retail technology company Inflyter have announced plans to provide an integrated platform that they said will offer travellers “a more convenient and connected digital experience”. Both Servy and Inflyter are backed by global travel experiences and loyalty business Collinson. Servy is a leader in omnichannel airport ecommerce (led by its Grab Airport Marketplace and app) with a presence at more than 80 airports, while Inflyter’s multi-concession duty free ecommerce platform has been implemented with travel retailers and airports across three continents. The strategic alliance aims to present an online marketplace with a single shopping and pre-ordering service showcasing all retailers, brands and products available at the airport – from food & beverage and travel essentials to duty free.

One-stop shop: An example of how the digital retail solution offered by Servy and Inflyter could look on desktop

Travellers can browse all commercial offerings before they leave home and save time at the airport by pre-ordering and purchasing in advance, or while they are waiting to depart, the partners said. The platform is designed to offer travellers greater control over how and when they shop, and allows them to receive goods at a time and place of their choice. It includes multiple delivery and collection options including in-store collection, and delivery at gate and in-lounge. Servy Chief Experience Officer Jeff Livney said: “Our new joint proposition with Inflyter presents a fantastic opportunity for us to elevate the airport experience for travellers while also strengthening the business and commercial value for our airport and hospitality and retail partners. With our combined airport, retailer and brand relationships, this partnership offers a way to fast track the delivery of a truly integrated, omnichannel, ecommerce marketplace across all shopping categories, creating more streamlined digital, in-store and in-airport solutions for travellers.”

The ecommerce platform will rely heavily on mobile engagement and deeper partnerships with airports and retailers. Inflyter recently launched a whisky e-boutique with DFS and Diageo Global Travel aimed at travellers across selected North American airports.

Wassim Saadé, Founder and CEO of Inflyter, said; “With purchases and time at the airport being increasingly planned, we know travellers want to have advance access to an integrated digital shopping solution to help them reduce stress before departure (or minimise anxiety at the airport). Combining our ecommerce expertise and mobile and digital duty free shopping experiences with Servy’s leading omnichannel approach in hospitality, will offer the digital online shopping platform travellers want, and create a single airport ecommerce platform to drive incremental and online retail revenues for all partners in the airport ecosystem.” The new strategic partnership will support the two companies’ combined ambition to widen their reach, including growth across the EMEA region. In Servy’s case, that ambition is also backed by new (minority) shareholder Unibail‐Rodamco‐Westfield, which aims to widen its own digital reach at leading airports and across territories. Developing a single, one-stop platform and marketplace has its own challenges, requiring build cost and buy-in from many partners. But it also comes against the backdrop of the industry’s digital retail transformation, and is one solution that addresses consumer expectations for experiences and transactions that are safe and seamless.

The launch of the Servy platform in Canada extends its presence to 13 countries worldwide

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The Moodie Davitt eZine Issue 304 | 21 December 2021

The Moodie Davitt eZine is published 15 times per year by The Moodie Davitt Report (Moodie International Ltd). © All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the Publisher. To find out more visit www.moodiedavittreport.com and to subscribe, please e-mail sinead@moodiedavittreport.com

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