The XML interface
XML interface is a must
for every professional car rental software solution. The XML interface is like the
open window of that a software has in order to be able to see
and talk to the rest of the world.
Carhire Manager Web XML interface
is undoubtly a very essential part in the package. This is the tunnel where
data exchange with other systems is taking place. Carhire
Manager Web XML interface is an XML web service based on the SOAP protocol that follows the OTA standard. OTA stands for OpenTravel
Alliance.
Just to put it simply the XML interface is a set of functions
that the another program may call in order to retrieve , enter or manipulate data. These functions usually
take in a number of parameters. When another program calls a function within
this web service a request is sent to Carhire
Manager Web asking/requiring
something and Carhire Manager Web
will return an XML response back.
An example might be that another
program may for instance call a function to get rates and availability for a
certain date range. It can also be a request
for submitting a booking with all necessary details. Carhire Manager witll
perform some tasks and finaly return a response
back.
Carhire Manager Web XML interface is currently connected
with a number of brokers or wholesaler companies ( Cartrawler,
Traveljigsaw, Micronexus,
Carjet, AutoEurope, Skyscanner e.t.c.)
Carhire Manager Web is also interfaced
through XML with Cobra (Sixt International ) and shortly will have XML connection with Budget International.
There
is of course enormous benefits by using
the XML interface. Here are some of the most important benefits
·
Reduced need
of human resources that leads to
·
Reduced costs
·
Reduced errors
in the system by automating data entry)
·
Instant data
exchange on real time
·
Validity of
data is guaranteed.
The majority of the big
car rental brokers nowadays require an XML interface from car rental companies in order to start a
cooperation. The era of exchanging faxes about bookings is definitely over. It
looks like the era of exchanging emails about bookings is also over. We are now
living in the XML era.
