Advantages of online reservation system

The online reservation system has several advantages both for the provider who may be a company or an organization and also for the consumer who uses the online reservation system for booking. We discuss the advantages of the online reservation system –

• Convenient–The user/consumer can book tickets at anytime from anywhere – from home, office, while travelling etc. The user needs to have just a computer and Internet access, and a card (credit, debit etc.) for payment. The user saves time (going physically to a booking office in their defined timings, find parking for car etc., stand in a queue in booking office) and energy. Making changes to your bookings like, cancellation, up gradation etc. is also easy. It is very convenient for the users with disabilities.

Price Comparison – Since several providers may be providing a service – cinema tickets on Wave cinema, PVR, Big Cinema etc.; online booking allows the customer to check the prices, compare them and get the best deal. Some websites also exist that provide the comparisons for you.

Figure 1.1 makemytrip showing ticket options for different airlines

• Security– The online reservation sites require you to create your profile and provide you with a username and password. Your information is secure until your password is secure.
• Confirmation of reservation–When a booking is done, the confirmation of the booking just takes a few seconds. It is fast and secure. The confirmed booking, your booked ticket etc. can be viewed on your mobile, iPad, iPhone, laptops etc., and can also be printed.
• Making choices – In online booking, the user can see the arrangement of seats, select a particular seat etc. For e.g. in railway booking, you can select from lower berth/upper berth, you can select if you want food on the train, book for beddings etc. You can read reviews posted by people, when making choices.
• Time saving – While doing online reservation, maybe initially you may spend time to get accustomed to the online reservation system, but later it becomes a time saver, as you comfortable with the booking system and it consumes very less time.
• Discount scheme – The users can avail the discount schemes provided by the provider, like, season discount, advance booking discount, frequent user discount etc.

For using the online reservation system, the user must have the understanding of using the computer for reservation.

For the organization or the company providing the reservation facility to their users, there are several advantages –

• Requires less staffing – The users can avail the discount schemes provided by the provider, like, season discount, advance booking discount, frequent user discount etc.
• Physical location – The physical location of the organization who has provided online reservation may be operating from the basement of their house, a garage, an office space in a small building, an office in a large commercial mall, or an office from their own building. The physical location of the office does not really matter to a customer who is reserving tickets online. So, the organization, big or small, can choose their office space depending on their needs. Also this will reduce the bills on rent for the office, electricity bill etc. for the organization. Although initial costs need to be incurred on setting up the website and maintaining it.
• Global Access – Online reservation is available to anyone irrespective of their physical location. The scope of access of the online reservation becomes large as anyone who has access to the Internet can search for the reservation site and book the tickets.

• Precautions while Performing Online Transactions

  The user when using the Internet may have to safeguard themselves from fraud etc. The precautions to be taken are as follows –

  The combination of username and password is the most common method of user identification and authentication. There are several security issues with the use of password, like, any invalid user if gets to know of a valid password can get access to the system, a simple password can be easily cracked etc. Some actions that can be taken to make the passwords safer are as follows –

  • Make a password complex,like mix case, use numbers and special characters. This decreases ability of automated attacks by increasing possible character combinations.
  • Be cautious not to leave passwords lying around and don’t share them with friends.