Shepherd Systems, Inc. and Tzell Travel Group today announced an agreement that provides Tzell with access to Shepherd’s AgentFlash, a Market Information Data Transfer (MIDT)-based business intelligence solution.Ê Tzell will deploy AgentFlash within the travel management area of the company, which specializes in providing a broad product line of cost containment, meeting services and comprehensive travel management programs for its corporate clients.

MIDT data is a comprehensive source of market and competitive information pulled from global distribution systems, which when integrated with other data sources, enables airlines and travel agencies to make strategically sound, fact-based decisions about their business operations.Ê

Shepherd Systems is the only company to successfully develop and market a MIDT-based decision and analysis solution tailored specifically for travel agencies, travel management companies (TMC) and corporate travel departments (CTD).

AgentFlash displays data in an array of customizable, intuitive and easy-to-understand management reports and query parameters that enable the individual travel agency, TMC or CTD access to its own MIDT data - which is the same information that forms the basis and goals for many airline incentive agreements.Ê With AgentFlash, agencies can maximize their airline incentive commission revenue, proactively move bookings and market share where appropriate, better manage and monitor their own performance in line with that of the airlines, and take corrective action in a timely manner when necessary.

AgentFlash is an Internet-based application that can be accessed by any Web-enabled workstation, requiring no additional hardware or software.Ê With this solution, TMCs are able to input their various airline market share goals into the system, and have the agency alert function measure the performance - positive or negative - at any time.Ê AgentFlash also provides individual market share, system share and peer share for each and/or all cabin classes of service.

“More and more airlines are including market share commitments in their TMC incentive agreements.Ê By implementing AgentFlash we will have access to the detailed information necessary to manage our business more efficiently, monitor our performance against incentive hurdles and maximize our return on investment,” said Jerry Behrens, vice president business solutions, Tzell Travel Group.Ê “Access to this intelligence will allow us to proactively respond to market changes and closely monitor booking trends, ultimately ensuring we remain competitive.”

“Tzell will now be able to identify their top revenue-generating and revenue-losing markets, and provide them with the information to shift their business appropriately and more effectively,” said Flo Lugli, senior vice president of Airline Solutions for Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services division and general manager of Shepherd Systems.Ê “AgentFlash is an industry-leading solution, demonstrated by our client roster of major industry players currently implementing the technology.Ê Tzell is a notable addition to this list.”

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