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By Author
Published on February 6, 2024
The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris is ushering in a new era for Indian tourists, allowing them to effortlessly purchase tickets via India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI). This groundbreaking development, announced during a celebratory event hosted by the Indian Embassy in France for Republic Day, marks a significant leap forward in global digital transactions.
In a strategic collaboration, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has joined forces with Lyra, a French e-commerce and payments platform, to introduce the UPI payment mechanism in France. The Eiffel Tower proudly becomes the first merchant in the country to embrace UPI, with plans to extend this service to other tourism and retail establishments across France and Europe.
With this integration, Indian tourists can now streamline their Eiffel Tower visit by purchasing tickets online through the simple and secure UPI payment system. This user-friendly process involves scanning a QR code generated on the merchant's website, making the transaction quick, easy, and hassle-free.
The vision of a truly interoperable global payment system takes a step closer to reality as NIPL actively collaborates with financial institutions worldwide to establish partnerships. Ritesh Shukla, CEO of NIPL, emphasizes the ambition to enable acceptance of NPCI's payment solutions in international markets, offering consumers convenient and secure cross-border payment solutions.
Lyra, with its 17-year presence in India, expresses pride in the partnership and the potential it holds for the French and European tourism ecosystem. Christophe Mariette, Commercial Director of Lyra France, highlights the promise of new business opportunities resulting from this collaboration.
This move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement during his visit to France, where he declared the initiation of the UPI payment mechanism from the iconic Eiffel Tower. The global reach of UPI extends to various countries, including Singapore, where the payment system has been seamlessly integrated, showcasing India's commitment to digital advancements.
With more than 380 million users in India, UPI has become a cornerstone of digital transactions, recording a staggering 12.2 billion transactions in the previous month alone. The Eiffel Tower's adoption of UPI not only simplifies the payment process for Indian tourists but also paves the way for a digital revolution in global tourism.
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By Nishang Narayan
Published on January 28, 2025
As AI becomes increasingly integral to the travel industry, it brings immense opportunities for smarter pricing and enhanced customer experiences. However, challenges around fairness and transparency have emerged, requiring travel providers to adopt ethical practices to maintain trust and loyalty.
AI-powered pricing uses consumer data—such as past spending habits and demographics—to create personalized offers. While this enhances value for travelers, it raises concerns about fairness. Transparency in pricing is critical to ensure customers feel valued and not unfairly targeted.
Moreover, perceptions of price as an indicator of quality play a significant role in decision-making. Many customers are willing to pay a premium for perceived superior service, influencing their travel choices and raising expectations for personalized experiences.
The travel industry has long relied on seasonal trends and basic supply-demand principles to set prices. However, fluctuating demand, rising competition, and evolving customer expectations make these static models ineffective in today’s dynamic environment.
AI-powered pricing strategies are emerging as the solution, offering real-time adaptability and data-driven precision to optimize rates based on shifting market conditions and customer behavior.
One of AI’s most valuable contributions is its ability to process massive datasets and generate actionable insights.
This allows travel providers to offer personalized deals that enhance customer satisfaction while boosting profitability.
AI’s predictive models are transforming how pricing trends are forecasted. By analyzing market shifts, consumer sentiment, and disruptions like pandemics, AI helps:
For instance, during high-demand periods such as Diwali or Chhath Puja, travelers increasingly plan ahead for longer journeys, while shorter trips with higher supply encourage last-minute bookings. AI anticipates these behaviors, ensuring smoother experiences for all.
AI enables flexible pricing models, allowing travelers to access rates that adapt to real-time demand and promotions.
While the benefits of AI in travel pricing are vast, ethical challenges remain. Travel companies must commit to:
By addressing these concerns, the industry can maintain customer loyalty and foster a sense of fairness in pricing strategies.
The integration of AI into travel pricing is reshaping the industry, offering:
However, the road ahead requires thoughtful adoption of ethical AI practices to ensure that the benefits are shared by both travelers and providers. By embracing innovation responsibly, the travel industry can unlock its full potential and thrive in a dynamic, competitive landscape.
About the Author:
Dr. Anshu Jalora, Founder & Managing Director of Sciative Solutions, is a leading expert in AI-driven dynamic pricing and revenue optimization for the travel and hospitality industries.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on January 22, 2025
Ola has announced an exciting partnership with Maha Kumbh 2025 to deliver a seamless digital and green mobility experience for millions of devotees attending the world’s largest spiritual gathering. Leveraging its ecosystem, including कृत्रिम (Krutrim) - India’s first AI unicorn, Ola Electric, and Ola Consumer, the partnership integrates AI, electric mobility, and enhanced travel services to provide a connected and sustainable experience during the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder of Ola, shared, “Maha Kumbh 2025 reflects India’s rich traditions and the nation’s aspirations for a tech-driven future. Our partnership exemplifies how AI, green mobility, and digital-first solutions can manage large gatherings efficiently and sustainably. We are committed to building India as a global leader in technologies of the future.”
Earlier this month, कृत्रिम (Krutrim) launched the Kumbh Sah'AI'yak app, the first-ever AI-powered chatbot for the Maha Kumbh Mela. This AI-driven platform, developed by the Prayagraj Mela Authority in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government, offers personalized navigation, cultural insights, and key information about the Mela. The app supports multiple languages, including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, and more, offering a user-friendly interface with voice commands and media-enriched content to enhance the visitor experience.
Ola Electric has further boosted the mobility experience by deploying 1,000 electric scooters at the Mela grounds. These e-scooters provide an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution for pilgrims, facilitating sustainable travel across the expansive Mela area.
Additionally, Ola Consumer has launched affordable transit services, including cabs, at airports, railway stations, and on-site rentals, making travel to and from the Mela seamless. Ola also operates EV shuttle services within the Mela grounds, ensuring convenient and accessible travel for attendees.
The Kumbh Sah'AI'yak app is a significant milestone in Krutrim’s mission to boost AI capabilities in India. The app helps visitors navigate the Mela, learn about its history and rituals, find accommodation, and explore attractions around Prayagraj. The AI-powered chatbot provides real-time information and ensures the privacy and security of user data.
Maha Kumbh 2025, which will run until February 26, 2025, is being hosted in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. It is recognized as the world’s largest public gathering, attracting millions of ascetics, pilgrims, saints, and devotees from across the globe. This event celebrates India’s cultural and spiritual essence, offering a unique blend of faith, tradition, and innovation.
Published on January 16, 2025
Swiggy has launched Pyng, a new app aimed at offering professional services in areas like astrology, fitness, career mentorship, legal advice, and more. The launch is part of the company's broader strategy to diversify its offerings beyond food delivery, following in the footsteps of Chinese tech giants like Alibaba and Meituan, which have multiple apps catering to different needs.
Unlike the superapp strategy, where a single app offers several services, Swiggy is adopting a house of apps model, with Pyng serving as the latest addition to its lineup. Other recent app launches under this strategy include Snacc (a 15-minute food delivery app) and Minis (a marketplace for direct-to-commerce brands). This approach contrasts with rivals like Zomato, which has integrated multiple services like food delivery and quick commerce under a single app, while Swiggy prefers to keep its offerings separate.
While superapps have not gained significant success at scale in India, Swiggy’s decision to maintain individual apps for specific use cases might cater better to user preferences. According to Swiggy, some users will prefer dedicated apps for different needs, allowing them to enjoy specialized services without cluttering a single app.
The new Pyng app aims to attract experts from diverse fields, including mental health, fitness, and legal consulting, similar to platforms like Urban Company, but focusing more on professional advice. With this move, Swiggy plans to tap into a growing demand for at-home services and specialized consultations, expanding beyond the food delivery space.
The launch of Pyng reflects Swiggy’s ongoing strategy to scale its business by diversifying its offerings. By separating services into distinct apps, the company hopes to create more targeted, user-friendly experiences for customers, thereby driving growth in a competitive market.
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