Helping Organisations Get More from Their Travel Technology

ATPI has strengthened its technology expertise across Australia and New Zealand with the appointment of Steve Ash as Client Technology Solutions Manager, reinforcing its commitment to helping organisations build smarter, more connected travel programmes through a leading technology stack backed by experienced people, responsive service and practical client-focused innovation.

Corporate travel technology has evolved at an extraordinary pace.

From online booking tools and traveller apps to artificial intelligence, automation and advanced reporting, organisations now have more technology at their disposal than ever before. Yet while the tools continue to evolve, one challenge remains the same: making technology work together in a way that genuinely improves the travel experience.

For Steve Ash, who has worked in travel technology since the 1980s, that’s where the greatest opportunity lies.

“The industry has changed enormously,” Steve says. “From green-screen terminals and paper

tickets through to today’s connected travel ecosystem, every new development has made travel smoother, more accessible and more efficient.”

“But technology on its own isn’t the answer. The real value comes from bringing the right

technology together in a way that supports both travellers and the organisations they work for.”

Connecting technology to business objectives

Modern travel programmes are about much more than booking flights and hotels.

Travel managers today need visibility over traveller movements, stronger reporting, policy compliance, duty of care, data security and seamless traveller experiences, all while balancing cost, efficiency and sustainability objectives.

“Some of the biggest challenges organisations face aren’t actually related to booking travel,” Steve explains. “Data privacy, security, duty of care, compliance and reporting are often just as important. Those priorities usually belong to stakeholders who may never actually make a booking themselves.”

This is where Steve believes the role of a Travel Management Company has fundamentally changed.

“A TMC shouldn’t simply be a supplier, it should be a strategic partner. The best partnerships don’t just solve today’s challenges; they help organisations prepare for what’s next.”

Making travel technology work together

One of the reasons Steve was attracted to ATPI was the depth and direction of its technology offering. As Client Technology Solutions Manager, he will work closely with organisations across Australia and New Zealand to help them unlock the full value of ATPI’s technology stack and align it with their wider business objectives.

Rather than relying on standalone solutions, ATPI’s approach brings together online booking capability, traveller profile management, approvals, reporting, analytics, duty of care, automation and programme visibility into a more connected client experience.

For Steve, the value lies not simply in the number of tools available, but in how they work together to simplify travel management, give clients clearer visibility over programme performance and support better decisions through real-time data and insight.

“What stood out to me about ATPI was the strength of the technology stack,” Steve says. “There is already a strong foundation in place, but more importantly, there is a clear appetite to keep evolving it. That combination of capability and ambition is what really excited me.”

“ATPI’s technology is not technology for technology’s sake,” Steve adds. “It is designed around the real challenges clients face, from visibility and compliance to traveller experience, control and confidence, and it is strengthened by the people who understand how to apply it in a

practical, responsive and service-led way.”

For Steve, this balance is central to ATPI’s proposition: technology that gives clients greater control and visibility, coupled with knowledgeable teams who provide guidance, solve problems and support travellers when it matters most.

The next evolution of travel technology

Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest developments currently shaping corporate travel, but Steve believes its greatest value will come from making travel simpler rather than more

complicated.

“No one really knows exactly where AI will ultimately take us,” he says. “What is clear is that it has the potential to benefit everyone across the travel ecosystem.”

From enabling travellers to make bookings using natural voice or text commands, to providing personalised recommendations and explaining policy decisions in plain English, AI has the potential to make travel programmes significantly easier to navigate.

“The possibilities really are endless,” Steve says. “And that’s before we consider the efficiencies and automation it will bring to Travel Management Companies and the wider industry. We’re only just beginning to see what’s possible.”

Technology powered by people

Despite almost four decades of innovation, one thing has remained constant throughout Steve’s career.

“Technology is an enabler, but people will always have an important role to play.”

While technology continues to improve efficiency, Steve believes successful travel programmes are still built on understanding each organisation’s unique requirements.

“Travel is full of nuances. The right solution for one organisation may not be the right solution for another. Understanding objectives, pain points and desired outcomes is still very much a people-driven process.”

That expertise becomes particularly valuable when disruption occurs.

“When everything goes to plan, technology is fantastic. But when flights are cancelled, weather causes disruption or complex itineraries suddenly change, that’s when experienced people really make the difference.”

For Steve, the future isn’t about choosing between technology and people.

“The organisations that will be most successful are those that combine both.”

Investing in the future

Steve joins ATPI at an exciting time as the business continues to invest in next-generation travel technology, innovation and client experience across Australia and New Zealand.

“I’m thrilled to be joining ATPI at such an exciting stage in its evolution,” Steve says. “The

technology is already strong, the ambition is clear, and what really stands out is the way ATPI combines that capability with experienced people and service that is genuinely focused on client outcomes.”

“I’m looking forward to working with our clients to help them get even more value from their travel programmes, while mentoring our teams and supporting the continued growth of the business across the region.”

The recent acquisition of ATPI by Direct Travel marks an exciting new chapter for the business, bringing together two organisations with a shared commitment to innovation, service excellence and client success. The combined strength of the group creates greater opportunities to invest in technology, enhance client solutions and support organisations as their travel programmes continue to evolve.