The world is changing at a staggering rate and technology is considered to be the key driver for these changes around us (Papers4you.com, 2006). An analysis of technology and its uses show that it has permeated in almost every aspect of our life. According to Tero et al (2004) many activities are handled electronically due the acceptance of information technology at home as well as at workplace. Internet can be seen as a truly global phenomenon that has made time and distance irrelevant to many transactions. According to Heikki et al. (2002), the transformation from the traditional banking towards e-banking has been a ‘leap’ change.
The evolution of electronic banking started from the use of automatic teller machines (ATM) and has passed through telephone banking, direct bill payment, electronic fund transfer and the revolutionary online banking (Alter, 2002). The future of electronic banking according to some is the acceptance of WAP enabled banking and interactive-TV banking (Petrus & Nelson, 2006). But it has been forecasted that among all the categories, online banking is the future of electronic financial transactions. The rise in the e-commerce and the use of internet in its facilitation along with the enhanced online security of transactions and sensitive information has been the core reasons for the penetration of online banking in everyday life (Papers4you.com, 2006). According to the latest official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS, 2006) indicate that subscriptions to the internet has grown more than 50% from 15 million in 2000 to 35 million in 2005 in the UK. It has also been estimated that 60% of the population in the UK use internet in their daily lives.
The fundamental shift towards the involvement of the customer in the financial service provision with the help of technology especially internet has helped in reduce costs of financial institutions as well as helped client to use the service at anytime and from virtually anywhere with access to an internet connection. According to theorists (Walfried et al., 2005) customer evaluation of the electronic services is influenced by attributions of success and failure in inter personal service situations. The use of electronic banking has removed the banking personnel that facilitate the transactions and has placed additional responsibilities on the customers to transact with the service. Although the use of E-banking is provided for the benefit of the customers but these changes require increased work or involvement on the part of customers. These and other factors might be seen as lesser service provided in terms of customer service. But these assumptions would be wrong if the customer knows the value of using the electronic service.
Thus it can be concluded that a fit between task i.e. the banking; technology i.e. the user interface and its reliability; and individuals i.e. the customers and their knowledge about using the service, is the key to successful E-banking services (Zigurs & Buckland, 1998).
References:
Alter, S. (2002), “Information Systems” 4th Edition, Prentice Hall
Heikki Karjaluoto, Minna Mattila, Tapio Pento (2002), “Factors underlying attitude formation towards online banking in Finland”, International Journal of Bank Marketing; Volume: 20 Issue: 6; 2002 Research paper
ONS (2005), “Office of National Statistics”, www.statistics.gov.uk
Papers For You (2006) "C/B/93. Dissertation. Will online business replace the traditional business in the banking industry in UK?", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtfina35.htm [17/06/2006]
Papers For You (2006) "P/F/174. Dissertation. Adoption of Online Banking", Available from http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/sprtfina35.htm [18/06/2006]
Petrus Guriting, Nelson Oly Ndubisi (2006), “Borneo online banking: evaluating customer perceptions and behavioural intention”, Management Research News; Volume: 29 Issue: 1/2; 2006 Conceptual Paper
Tero Pikkarainen, Kari Pikkarainen, Heikki Karjaluoto, Seppo Pahnila (2004), “Consumer acceptance of online banking: an extension of the technology acceptance model”, Internet Research; Volume: 14 Issue: 3; 2004 Research paper
Walfried M. Lassar, Chris Manolis, Sharon S. Lassar (2005), “The relationship between consumer innovativeness, personal characteristics, and online banking adoption”, International Journal of Bank Marketing; Volume: 23 Issue: 2; 2005 Research paper
Zigurs, I. & Buckland, B. (1998), “A Theory of Task/Technology Fit and Group Support Systems Effectiveness”, MIS Quarterly, Sep98, Vol. 22 Issue 3, p313-334, 22p
Copyright 2006 Verena Veneeva. Professional Writer working for http://www.coursework4you.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Verena_Veneeva [http://ezinearticles.com/?E-banking-(Online-Banking)-and-Its-role-in-Todays-Society&id=232606 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?E-banking-(Online-Banking)-and-Its-role-in-Todays-Society&id=232606
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Air Ticket Booking
Flight ticket booking via a website has been nothing short of a revolution in the travel industry. Introduced in India in 2004, online booking of air tickets has acted as a catalyst for the country's aviation market. The key drivers for the spiraling demand for online bookings were:
* Savings on commission and service fees
* Ability to book flights any time and from anywhere
The increasing popularity of online flight booking has prompted airlines to include this facility on their website.
Flight Ticket Booking via Airline Website: Advantages
For passengers opting for online flight ticket booking, certain airlines offer numerous benefits that set them apart from their competitors. Look out for the following advantages when selecting an airline:
* Comprehensive flight schedule: Some airlines display a wide range of scheduling options that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. You can see exactly when each flight departs and arrives at its destination and its stopovers.
* Web-special deals and discounts: With online booking, airlines save on overhead. Some of the airlines pass on these savings to their passengers in the form of high discounts.
* Cost savings: Some airlines display the exact cost of each leg of a flight and various options/services available onboard. This enables you to select the desired services and make the highest possible cost savings.
* Modifications made easy: Several people encounter the need to make alterations to their travel plans and specifications, such as a change in departure date and timing, seat and food specifications, days after making a reservation. Some airlines allow you to make modifications as late as 24 hours before the scheduled departure timing.
* Facility of early check-in: Online flight ticket booking offers you the unique benefit of checking in up to 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure time. You can select your seat and print your boarding pass from the comfort of your home or office. The benefit transcends to time saved in serpentine queues at the airport. If you have only carry-on luggage, you can directly make your way to the airplane's gate with your boarding pass. Otherwise, you can get your bags checked at a kiosk at the airport and skip the ticketing and boarding pass lines.
Jet Airways, with the acquisition of JetLite and along with its Economy Class Jet Airways Konnect service, today has a combined fleet strength of 107 aircraft and operates over 449 flights daily. Jet Airways was awarded the Galileo Express Travelworld 'Best Domestic Full Service Airline' title in 2008. [http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/PlanYourTravel/BookOnline.aspx]Flight Ticket Booking - Jet Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, and now it's all set to change the way you fly - for the better! Jet Airways operates flights to 20 international destinations, offering you a better choice in the skies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Parinaz_Driver http://EzineArticles.com/?Flight-Ticket-Booking-Via-Airline-Website&id=2938781
* Savings on commission and service fees
* Ability to book flights any time and from anywhere
The increasing popularity of online flight booking has prompted airlines to include this facility on their website.
Flight Ticket Booking via Airline Website: Advantages
For passengers opting for online flight ticket booking, certain airlines offer numerous benefits that set them apart from their competitors. Look out for the following advantages when selecting an airline:
* Comprehensive flight schedule: Some airlines display a wide range of scheduling options that would be difficult to obtain otherwise. You can see exactly when each flight departs and arrives at its destination and its stopovers.
* Web-special deals and discounts: With online booking, airlines save on overhead. Some of the airlines pass on these savings to their passengers in the form of high discounts.
* Cost savings: Some airlines display the exact cost of each leg of a flight and various options/services available onboard. This enables you to select the desired services and make the highest possible cost savings.
* Modifications made easy: Several people encounter the need to make alterations to their travel plans and specifications, such as a change in departure date and timing, seat and food specifications, days after making a reservation. Some airlines allow you to make modifications as late as 24 hours before the scheduled departure timing.
* Facility of early check-in: Online flight ticket booking offers you the unique benefit of checking in up to 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure time. You can select your seat and print your boarding pass from the comfort of your home or office. The benefit transcends to time saved in serpentine queues at the airport. If you have only carry-on luggage, you can directly make your way to the airplane's gate with your boarding pass. Otherwise, you can get your bags checked at a kiosk at the airport and skip the ticketing and boarding pass lines.
Jet Airways, with the acquisition of JetLite and along with its Economy Class Jet Airways Konnect service, today has a combined fleet strength of 107 aircraft and operates over 449 flights daily. Jet Airways was awarded the Galileo Express Travelworld 'Best Domestic Full Service Airline' title in 2008. [http://www.jetairways.com/EN/IN/PlanYourTravel/BookOnline.aspx]Flight Ticket Booking - Jet Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, and now it's all set to change the way you fly - for the better! Jet Airways operates flights to 20 international destinations, offering you a better choice in the skies.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Parinaz_Driver http://EzineArticles.com/?Flight-Ticket-Booking-Via-Airline-Website&id=2938781
Travel agency
The travel trade media are full of ideas for lowering expenses but not enough ideas about sure ways to increase your travel agency's profitability. Yet there are proven business models which
work for mid-size and larger travel agencies.
1) Consider a straightforward dealership model in which the travel agency decides to
marry a single cruise line and moves 80%+ of its revenue to this vendor. In return the cruise line offers the agency the highest commission and override plus training, soft dollars and co-op marketing funds, cleared wait-lists and satisfactory resolution of customer issues 100 percent of the time.
This approach requires the travel agency to prove to a vendor that it is able to move most of its revenue within an agreed upon time frame. But think about it: today you advertise that your agents are specialists, yet they sell 15 to 20 preferred vendors - can they really be specialists? In a dealership, your agents learn everything about a single vendor and become true specialists.
Tips:
• Plan on 9 to 12months to convert your business to one vendor from the time you reach an agreement.
• Put in place a non-preferred vendor tracking/compliance and offer an incentive only for the selected vendor.
2) Try a tour operator/retail travel agency model. Several national travel organizations are using this model well, including AAA Southern California which owns part of Pleasant Holidays; American Express which owns Travel Impressions and Flight Center owns GoGo and Liberty.
This model works when there is a large retail network of owned agencies to sell tours and programs as well as other retail travel agencies which can sell your products as well.
Tips:
• Start by deciding on the appropriate tour operator that matches your strategy and niche (high-end/luxury or mass-market).
• Approach the owner or CEO with a partnership proposal which would benefit both of you.
• Suggest an infusion of investment and potentially expanded distribution outlets in return for % ownership in the tour company.
Travel vendors welcome discussions about dealership or part-ownership proposals. Travel business consultants such as Travel Business CPR will also investigate and negotiate on your behalf.
Tharwat Abouraya, CTIE
President
Travel Business CPR - Bring Strategy to Life! http://www.travelbusinesscpr.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tharwat_Abouraya http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Proven-Profitability-Drivers-For-Travel-Agencies&id=1971356
work for mid-size and larger travel agencies.
1) Consider a straightforward dealership model in which the travel agency decides to
marry a single cruise line and moves 80%+ of its revenue to this vendor. In return the cruise line offers the agency the highest commission and override plus training, soft dollars and co-op marketing funds, cleared wait-lists and satisfactory resolution of customer issues 100 percent of the time.
This approach requires the travel agency to prove to a vendor that it is able to move most of its revenue within an agreed upon time frame. But think about it: today you advertise that your agents are specialists, yet they sell 15 to 20 preferred vendors - can they really be specialists? In a dealership, your agents learn everything about a single vendor and become true specialists.
Tips:
• Plan on 9 to 12months to convert your business to one vendor from the time you reach an agreement.
• Put in place a non-preferred vendor tracking/compliance and offer an incentive only for the selected vendor.
2) Try a tour operator/retail travel agency model. Several national travel organizations are using this model well, including AAA Southern California which owns part of Pleasant Holidays; American Express which owns Travel Impressions and Flight Center owns GoGo and Liberty.
This model works when there is a large retail network of owned agencies to sell tours and programs as well as other retail travel agencies which can sell your products as well.
Tips:
• Start by deciding on the appropriate tour operator that matches your strategy and niche (high-end/luxury or mass-market).
• Approach the owner or CEO with a partnership proposal which would benefit both of you.
• Suggest an infusion of investment and potentially expanded distribution outlets in return for % ownership in the tour company.
Travel vendors welcome discussions about dealership or part-ownership proposals. Travel business consultants such as Travel Business CPR will also investigate and negotiate on your behalf.
Tharwat Abouraya, CTIE
President
Travel Business CPR - Bring Strategy to Life! http://www.travelbusinesscpr.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tharwat_Abouraya http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Proven-Profitability-Drivers-For-Travel-Agencies&id=1971356
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