Studiosus, based in Munich, is the European market leader in the cultural tours segment. Together with tour operators Marco Polo Reisen and Hauser Exkursionen, the group offers study tours to more than 100 countries worldwide. It has maintained this position for many years thanks to its program's superb quality, excellent tour guides, and constant innovation.

Despite challenges from global crises, Studiosus saw significant growth in 2024. The company, which includes the tour operator Marco Polo, increased its turnover to nearly 259 million euros, up from just 225 million the previous year. The number of tour participants also rose, from 71,500 in 2023 to 74,000 in 2024.

To maintain its reputation as a forward-thinking company, Studiosus Reisen needed to update and improve its website design, performance, and SEO and focus on developing a modern booking system. The goal was a responsive online booking system with a mobile-first design, up-to-date availability, live flight data, and direct flight booking.

This is why they turned to PRODYNA as a trusted partner over the years.

 "PRODYNA’s expertise in project management methods and conceptual work has made a real difference. Their close cooperation with our developers and product owners, combined with their commitment to truly understanding our business and the specific needs of the tourism market, has helped create better solutions for us. This deep understanding builds the vital trust needed in such a complex environment."

- Dr. Frank Miedreich, Head of IT at Studiosus Reisen

Innovating travel through booking & website development

Studiosus Group has been working with PRODYNA for five years, starting with website development for Studiosus Reisen and its subsidiaries, Marco Polo Reisen and Studiosus Gruppenreisen.

After several years with the improved websites, new requirements emerged for Studiosus and Marco Polo.

Significant issues with the legacy booking application became apparent:

• The system lacked live flight data and direct flight booking
• The system was built on legacy Systems (e.g. Framework, Content Management System)
• It was non-responsive and unusable on mobile devices
• It offered poor usability due to limited and unclear information for users
• The application was slow, leading toa high manual workload after every incoming booking
• Even minor changes required considerable maintenance effort, which further hindered efficiency

These challenges made it clear that a comprehensive booking system and website development was essential to improving the overall customer experience and streamlining operations.

Simplifying travel with online booking system development

To address these issues with the help of PRODYNA, Studiosus Reisen implemented a modern online booking system by integrating the legacy on-premises ERP system with a modern technology stack based on spring-boot microservices running in a Kubernetes cluster to provide real-time availability, prices, and other essential tour information.

The objective was a comprehensive booking system - a mobile-first online booking platform that prioritizes user flow optimization to deliver a streamlined and intuitive experience. A key aim was to reduce the number of customer inquiries received by the client's customer sales team following online bookings.

The integration with an information system that was developed in parallel will facilitate the provision of all tour-related information. This internal portal solution designed to house and maintain all the client's information ensures comprehensive and up-to-date data for Studiosus customers.  

The project digitized numerous paper-based lists and Excel processes, as well as replacing the 40-year-oldCobol terminal ERP system.

Creating new interfaces, PRODYNA synchronized the legacy system with a new central ERP system and other services.

We also connected the ERP system to Hitchhiker, a flight consolidator and booking software, allowing real-time booking and reservation maintenance.  

Additionally, an SAP adapter was integrated to enable the real-time synchronization of customer data and bookings between the ERP system and SAP. Through this integration, the ERP system now provides real-time financial information to business intelligence and yield management.

Finally, the new booking system ensures automated flight bookings when a reservation is confirmed, securing both the price and availability.

"The new online booking system has greatly benefited our business by improving data quality and optimizing conversion rates within the booking funnel. These enhancements have streamlined our operations and improved overall business performance."

-  Thomas Borsch, Head of Direct Marketing & After Sales Service at Studiosus Reisen

The online travel booking platform you will love

The new online booking solution has revolutionized the user experience for Studiosus customers by seamlessly integrating flight options into the booking process. Travelers can now preview live flight options as they browse available tours, allowing them to choose the perfect itinerary with up-to-date flight availability and pricing information.

Once a booking is made, the system automatically secures the selected flights, ensuring the customer benefits from both the best prices and guaranteed availability. This enhancement reduces the risk of price changes or sold-out flights, making the booking process stress-free. 

"The new online booking system puts our customers first by simplifying the entire process. We've reduced complexity, allowing quick and easy access to all available flight connections, ensuring a smoother and more convenient experience for our travelers."

- Thomas Borsch, Head of Direct Marketing & After Sales Service at Studiosus Reisen

Increased conversions and mobile engagement

Implementing the new booking system has significantly boosted conversion rates by 40% within the new funnel. Additionally, the share of bookings made via mobile devices has increased from0% to 15% for Studiosus and 26% for Marco Polo Reisen. This transformation underscores the effectiveness of the new funnel in enhancing user experience and accessibility, driving substantial growth in desktop and mobile bookings. Travelers now enjoy a more seamless and efficient booking process, increasing their satisfaction and engagement.