FCM FORTIFIES TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE THROUGH SHEP ACQUISTION

22 December, 2021 – FCM today announced that parent company Flight Centre Travel Group has fully acquired Shep, the Texas-based software company that provides a browser-extension based communication platform for multi-national corporations. This acquisition builds on last year’s initial investment in the firm, and boosts FCM’s already robust technology offering.

“At FCM, we strive to offer a best-in-class traveller experience at every touchpoint of the customer journey,” said FCM Global Managing Director, Marcus Eklund. “The Shep software has allowed us to extend that experience on third party websites, further building on the flexibility we offer customers that we’ve become known for.”

Shep’s integration into the FCM customer offering comes at a pivotal time as the company gears up for the global rollout of its highly anticipated new omni-channel platform to service a multi-national client base that stretches over 100 countries.

Daniel Senyard, co-founder and CEO of Shep, commented: “FCM shares our passion for intelligent and ground-breaking technology that addresses pain points and vastly improves the user experience. We are thrilled and excited to play our part in supporting their vision for the new FCM Platform.”

Built inhouse and fully proprietary, FCM’s new platform provides a comprehensive, globally consistent experience that delivers a superior level of choice and that all-important flexibility and ability to choose from a number of integrations to deliver on multi-national and local needs.

The Shep browser tool will enable FCM to customise content and enhance the user experience on third party websites and online booking tools that corporate customers use, either as part of the FCM platform’s flexible offering or when booking or searching outside of a company’s recommended booking tools. There are also tangible benefits for customers in the important areas of health, safety, sustainability and policy guidance, which the Shep product will enable FCM to integrate into these systems when the products don’t offer them themselves. As a result, customers can expect greater consistency across the globe, while also delivering better control, duty of care, sustainability and communications benefits – a critical priority in today’s evolving travel landscape.

This latest acquisition reflects FCM’s reputation as an leader in the tech travel space, borne through a strategy of continuous development and complementary acquisitions, working closely with our partner Plug and Play – a leading silicon valley start-up accelerator and investor – to encourage start-ups and innovative ideas in the travel industry.

Alongside Shep, FCM will continue to leverage the significant technology investments its parent company has made in recent years to improve customer experience. These include the acquisitions of booking technology specialist WhereTo, mobile chatbot platform Sam, and equity investment in air content aggregator TPConnects.

“Our continued focus in game-changing technology provides our corporate clients with superior tools and services to help them stay ahead of the rapidly evolving corporate travel landscape. This will allow us to emerge from the pandemic in an incredibly powerful way,” added Eklund.

About FCM

FCM is one of the world’s largest travel management companies with a 24/7 reach in over 100 countries. As a trusted travel partner for thousands of national and multi-national organisations, including many household brands, Fortune and FTSE 100 companies, FCM’s agile and flexible technology platform anticipates and solves client needs supported by expert teams who provide in-depth local knowledge and duty of care as part of the ultimate personalised business travel experience. While as the flagship business travel division of the ASX-listed Flight Centre Travel Group, FCM is able to negotiate and deliver access to the widest network of airfares, hotels, and ground transport for unique and best-value solutions. The company recently debuted its new omni-channel platform featuring a ‘first of its kind’ customised end-to-end user experience that will be available to new clients from early 2022. Discover the alternative at www.fcmtravel.com

About Shep

Founded in 2016, Shep is an award-winning travel data, communication and digital adoption platform (DAP) that helps enterprises manage and measure travel behaviour both inside corporate booking environments, like Concur, as well as on consumer travel sites, like Expedia and Airbnb. Shep uses browser extension technology to overlay messaging and user interaction elements on top of corporate and consumer travel sites. Shep also collects cross-site booking and behavioural data so that travel managers and travel management companies can understand what, where, and why employees are choosing to book their business travel. More at www.sheptravel.com