Thursday, October 9, 2008
:: INTRODUCTION ::
In today’s fast paced world, Internet is no longer just about e-mail and Web sites. The net has become the critical medium, effective tools in helping individuals and organization in revenue-generating business activities from e-commerce and e-supply chain management to online marketplaces and collaboration.
Nowadays, people are relying less on traditional buying or selling but more on the convenience way, which is e-commerce. Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce or eCommerce, consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer network. For our ISORG project, we had chosen ZUJI website as a research project because of its unique features and what attractive offers it appeals to the consumers.
ZUJI, the leading online travel company in the Asia-Pacific Region, also includes operations in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
It is a joint venture between US-based travel website Travelocity and 15 leading airlines (including Singapore Airlines and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific) operating in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides that, ZUJI has travel websites and offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
::PURPOSE ::
As an established, trusted and credible travel company with an extensive Asia Pacific Regional network, ZUJI website offers travellers access to flight, hotel, car hire and attractions bookings, cruises, package tours and other travel products on travel tools. This enabling travellers to create their own journeys with online access to a comprehensive range of travel products and including more than 400 airlines, 50,000 hotels, 50 car hire companies and more than 3,000 activities and attractions. ZUJI one-stop online shop for travellers who are looking for easy and convenience way of booking travel online.
:: FEATURES ::
What does it have on it’s website: www.zuji.com
Zuji is an example of a transaction broker e-commerce business model. It earns a commission for the transactions carried out through its site. It does not own any of the airlines or hotels referred to in the various bookings. It is merely an online agent. ...
...
In order to complete the various booking transactions in reasonable processing time, Zuji has a network linkup to all its business partners (banks, hotels, airlines).....
Offer air tickets from the country you chosen to depart to the country you chosen to reach.
Allows you to choose which airway you prefer to ride and also which type of seats you would like to sit for example economy, business or first class seats.
You may even choose window seats.
From the website they even offer deals in packages, and also they also allows you to book hotels online.
Such a website do business with anyone who’s looking for a deal, be it a couple looking towards a honeymoon, or a small tour group of family.
As it was written on the site, it’s an online travel guru so it even offers cruise deals.
If you plan to travel within your own country, they even allow you to hire cars.
As for payment system, it’s either credit or debit card as seen below. All online payments are secured and encrypted by VeriSign, the global leader in online security for e-commerce payments.
As seen, there are various affliated sites connected to ZUJI which are similar to ZUJI
There’s even some extra information for the potential tourists as seen below.
Zuji is an example of a transaction broker e-commerce business model. It earns a commission for the transactions carried out through its site. It does not own any of the airlines or hotels referred to in the various bookings. It is merely an online agent. ......
In order to complete the various booking transactions in reasonable processing time, Zuji has a network linkup to all its business partners (banks, hotels, airlines).....
Offer air tickets from the country you chosen to depart to the country you chosen to reach.
Allows you to choose which airway you prefer to ride and also which type of seats you would like to sit for example economy, business or first class seats.
You may even choose window seats.
From the website they even offer deals in packages, and also they also allows you to book hotels online.
Such a website do business with anyone who’s looking for a deal, be it a couple looking towards a honeymoon, or a small tour group of family.
As it was written on the site, it’s an online travel guru so it even offers cruise deals.
If you plan to travel within your own country, they even allow you to hire cars.
As for payment system, it’s either credit or debit card as seen below. All online payments are secured and encrypted by VeriSign, the global leader in online security for e-commerce payments.
As seen, there are various affliated sites connected to ZUJI which are similar to ZUJI
There’s even some extra information for the potential tourists as seen below.
:: KEY CHARACTERISTICS ::
ZUJI website offers innovative tools that are not available on any other travel portal, such as a wide range of services from destination, tour packages, hotel, flight, travel insurance, and travel extra. It’s a tool that allows customers to bundle services for a personalized travel experience.
*****My Zuji*****
After your first purchase through ZUJI website, customer accounts will be automatically set up and it is convenient for your next purchase. Travellers can also subscribe the e-newsletter from here, where the existing customers can receive priority information on exclusive travel deals.
*****Destination Guru*****
This feature helps travelers to make proper travel arrangements and saves customers time on searching for numerous separate options. It shows destinations that travellers may not have thought of, or considered within their budget, especially for those who have not decide on where to visit.
*****Packages Guru*****
Comprises of price guru, flight guru and hotel guru.
With this features, customers can create their own travel package by choosing from some 400 airlines and 30,000 merchant hotels, which can then be bundled with travel insurance, car transfers as well as activities such as private tour.
[-=Flight Guru=-] Travellers can make use of this features to search options for flight. They has an unique ability to prompt the traveler of stopover opportunities offered by selected airfares.
[-=Hotel Guru=-] This improved hotel booking experience for travellers by offering great deals, and a wide choice of accommodation options all over the world, starting from 5 star hotels, resorts to small Bed and Breakfasts. This advantage includes the opportunity on ZUJI to confirm room availability at the time of searching for accommodation options, and to secure the booking while you're online.
[-=Price Guru=-] Before start a single step on journey, travelers can use this function to search for lowest airfares for up to 5 destination by entering the amount that they willing to pay. ZUJI will inform them when it hits the amount specified by travellers.
*****Travel Extra Guru*****
Some useful tips to help travelers to arrange their travel more convenient and fun, which provide them a comprehensive range of travel product information such as arrival or departure information, currency converter, embassy information, travel advisories, weather check and visa requirement.
*****Travel Insurances*****
*****Customer Care*****
ZUJI understands the importance of customer service, its customer care team is accessible seven days a week via webchat, email, phone or fax.
*****My Zuji*****
After your first purchase through ZUJI website, customer accounts will be automatically set up and it is convenient for your next purchase. Travellers can also subscribe the e-newsletter from here, where the existing customers can receive priority information on exclusive travel deals.
*****Destination Guru*****
This feature helps travelers to make proper travel arrangements and saves customers time on searching for numerous separate options. It shows destinations that travellers may not have thought of, or considered within their budget, especially for those who have not decide on where to visit.
*****Packages Guru*****
Comprises of price guru, flight guru and hotel guru.
With this features, customers can create their own travel package by choosing from some 400 airlines and 30,000 merchant hotels, which can then be bundled with travel insurance, car transfers as well as activities such as private tour.
[-=Flight Guru=-] Travellers can make use of this features to search options for flight. They has an unique ability to prompt the traveler of stopover opportunities offered by selected airfares.
[-=Hotel Guru=-] This improved hotel booking experience for travellers by offering great deals, and a wide choice of accommodation options all over the world, starting from 5 star hotels, resorts to small Bed and Breakfasts. This advantage includes the opportunity on ZUJI to confirm room availability at the time of searching for accommodation options, and to secure the booking while you're online.
[-=Price Guru=-] Before start a single step on journey, travelers can use this function to search for lowest airfares for up to 5 destination by entering the amount that they willing to pay. ZUJI will inform them when it hits the amount specified by travellers.
*****Sms Guru*****
With the “SMS Guru” feature in Singapore, ZUJI can alert mobile subscribers via short message service (SMS) of the lowest airfare for one of 50 destinations in the Asia Pacific, USA and Europe.
With the “SMS Guru” feature in Singapore, ZUJI can alert mobile subscribers via short message service (SMS) of the lowest airfare for one of 50 destinations in the Asia Pacific, USA and Europe.
*****Travel Extra Guru*****
Some useful tips to help travelers to arrange their travel more convenient and fun, which provide them a comprehensive range of travel product information such as arrival or departure information, currency converter, embassy information, travel advisories, weather check and visa requirement.
*****Travel Insurances*****
Travellers have option wide open to avail insurance coverage. ZUJI Travel provides fully comprehensive cover for international travel. They will also give you medical insurance including accidental injury or illness while traveling.
*****Customer Care*****
ZUJI understands the importance of customer service, its customer care team is accessible seven days a week via webchat, email, phone or fax.
:: DESIGNS ::
On first glance it’s in a pleasant colour that’s not glaring to the eye.
At first glance, it even shows you deals which you might be interested with price included. However, because there’s much choice, so unless you know what exactly you are looking for, you might be at a loss of what you are really seeking.
One good thing is that this website has already separated various deals on tabs so you just have to click on the one you are interested in. It’s very easy to book the air plane with just a few clicks. In addition it also shows you various airlines you can take and at what prices. As seen below:
After selecting your flight, it shows you the price you are supposed to pay, as well as the booking fees.
It also shows you a list of hotels which might be interested in.
In all, this website makes all simple for you to book an air tickets and even a hotel room.
:: STRENGTH ::
As the most comprehensive online travel company in Asia Pacific, it enable the travellers to access the best deals by just clicking on the mouse. ZUJI’s online websites allows convenient access to travellers who want to search and book travel online.
Apart from the travel arrangements through websites, ZUJI also introduce hotel bookings via i-mode. In the case of i-mode, users use their phones to shop, book tickets, download games, conduct online chats and even bid for auctions online.
By using ZUJI’s well designed website, travelers are provided with lots of different choices such as over 400 airlines, 60,000 hotels, 300 activities, hundreds of cruise choices and 50 car hire options.
Besides that, there are also handy services such as weather check, insurance, airfare alert (Price Guru) and regular updates via email and sms (SMS Guru).
All online payments are secured and encrypted by VeriSign, the global leader in online security for e-commerce payments. Customers have the added convenience of the tickets being delivered to them, at no extra charge. There is also no surcharge for credit card payments.
ZUJI’s provides a 24-hour customer service center in English, Cantonese and Mandarin which is available to assist ZUJI members if they need help in making their online travel arrangements.
:: WEAKNESSES ::
Since it’s an online transaction, no cheques can be used. Not even paypal can be used. Can only be paid by either a credit or debit card. Even if’s so, there’s only a few choices of credit cards for example VISA, Amex cards and Master cards.
We can compare prices between competitors’ airlines in this website, but not the prices offered by different similar websites, as a result we can’t be sure if ZUJI really offers the best deal.
More offers can prove to be more convenient for the website users, but too many of it (as seen below) can prove to be too much.
:: CRITICAL ANALYSIS ::
One good thing is that it list out the money that you’d have to fork out if you book a certain flight or cruise trip. For flight trips it even includes airport tax which saves us the time of calculating. In addition, it also includes budget airlines for people who’s looking towards a budgeted trip or for those back-packers.
However, ZUJI only shows flights between some South East Asia countries, USA, UK and some European countries. Countries such as South Africa are not shown and cannot be chosen. Hence there’s a limited choice.
There’s also too much information on the site, which makes it somehow a bit messy.
In addition there’s also too many steps in booking a trip, hence makes it a bit troublesome for some who’s impatient.
However, ZUJI only shows flights between some South East Asia countries, USA, UK and some European countries. Countries such as South Africa are not shown and cannot be chosen. Hence there’s a limited choice.
There’s also too much information on the site, which makes it somehow a bit messy.
In addition there’s also too many steps in booking a trip, hence makes it a bit troublesome for some who’s impatient.
:: SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS ::
ZUJI has an online member base exceeding 1 million travellers and has aggressive expansion plans in Asia Pacific. ZUJI's target countries for future expansion include New Zealand, India, China and other South East Asia markets.
ZUJI intends to continue to introduce innovations to its flight, hotel, car rental and packages booking engines to better serve customers.
In March 2004, ZUJI was ranked as the Number 1 travel-agency website in Singapore in the quarterly Hitwise Top 10 award rankings for last quarter (from period October 2003 to December 2003) by Hitwise, the world's leading online competitive intelligence service.
ZUJI intends to continue to introduce innovations to its flight, hotel, car rental and packages booking engines to better serve customers.
In March 2004, ZUJI was ranked as the Number 1 travel-agency website in Singapore in the quarterly Hitwise Top 10 award rankings for last quarter (from period October 2003 to December 2003) by Hitwise, the world's leading online competitive intelligence service.
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