GlobalPro Int'l Lives Up To Name W/ Expansion Plans
<B>GlobalPro Int'l Lives Up To Name W/ Expansion Plans</B>
By Angela Spiegel
New Zealand-based software developer GlobalPro International Ltd. is shaping up as a company to watch during the coming months as it forges ahead with international expansion plans, including its debut in the North American market this year.
GlobalPro, a developer of travel planning and expense management software, recently appointed CBT Creations as its distributor in South Africa and is exploring marketing and distribution opportunities in the United Kingdom and North America. After spending a few months gathering intelligence and investigating the potential of the U.S. and Canadian markets, the company is convinced there are plenty of opportunities to warrant establishing GlobalPro in these regions.
"In the U.S. market, T&E applications are primarily targeted at the Fortune 1000 companies, whereas GlobalPro has been designed to target the huge small-to-midsize market," said GlobalPro founder and managing director Murray Watson. "Additionally, competitive products tend to focus on either the ability to make an online reservation or in the area of expense management. GlobalPro combines both travel planning and expense management into one easy-to-use, effective structure."
GlobalPro's four main modules include a travel planner, an expense manager, a module that allows credit card data feeds and one that provides the interface between GlobalPro and central reservation systems. The TravelPlanner module streamlines the initial travel planning and management process of arranging flights, accommodations and other travel components in accordance with company travel policy. Expense Manager captures and stores all transactions, which it splits according to client requirements into areas like cost center and project. The main modules are supported by configuration, messaging and reporting modules.
Watson plans to capitalize on his relationships with such companies as Southern Cross Galileo and American Express in his push into the North American market. GlobalPro plans to launch an interface this month with global distribution system Southern Cross Galileo, the company that distributes Galileo International in Australia and New Zealand. At the same time, GlobalPro will launch an enhanced data feed capability with American Express. It is all part of the GlobalPro version 4.0, which has been built in accordance with Microsoft accreditation standards and will be lodged for approval early this year. Watson said he would like GlobalPro to participate in Galileo's Global Support Partners' Program and a similar program operated by American Express.
"When we release our new version this month, we want to get some runs on the board and that will mean we have a good case to put forward to join their program," Watson said.
Southern Cross Galileo senior solutions manager Virginia Turner is upbeat about the potential.
"This is the sort of capability that GlobalPro is finding exciting about having some involvement with a GDS," she said. "If they want to expand into the United States, we would want to be the conduit for them. We would like to be involved."
Turner said that for now GlobalPro had developed an interface, in conjunction with SCG, for access to the Galileo distribution system. The Company has yet to develop an interface with Apollo, another distribution system also owned by Galileo International and popular in the United States. But, she said, SCG wanted to be there to help when GlobalPro was ready to go ahead.
Peter Tynan, director of travel services group for American Express in New Zealand and now director of travel operations for American Express in Australia, has no doubt GlobalPro has the potential to go global. Tynan was one of the first to spot the talent of GlobalPro, and in July 2000 was quick to give the go-ahead for data feeds that would help pre-populate expense claims for travelers using the GlobalPro system. "This would have appeal for sure in the United States," he said. "It may have to be customized for different markets, but in terms of the basic product, it could go global today. It's good stuff."
Going global is the plan as far as Watson is concerned. He has developed relationships with other major GDSs, Sabre and Amadeus in the Australasian market, and is in early-stage discussions with Visa International, another promising relationship that could help springboard GlobalPro on to the world stage.
In July, GlobalPro is scheduled to launch its Web-enabled version, which, among other enhancements, enables users to choose between a travel agent or direct online reservations.