Tourvest Destination Management (TDM) has developed a central procurement platform, e.DMC, which is accessible online through its in-house-developed B2B software.
“e.DMC was born from the need to provide critical technological infrastructure and administrative support to DMCs in South Africa, and bringing value to businesses through cost saving, convenience and a competitive advantage,” said Martijn Mellaart, Managing Director of e.DMC.
He said the newly launched platform is available to all South African inbound-focused destination management companies (DMCs), adding that it was an adaptation of TDM’s “class-leading and successful B2B platform” and powered by its in-house developed software.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the fact that drastically reducing costs is the only way to survive. Tourvest Destination Management is one of the largest DMCs in South Africa with an advanced electronic procurement platform as well as an in-house developed B2B sales tool. By offering access to this platform, e.DMC can save many DMCs,” said Mellaart.
CEO of Tourvest Destination Management, Martin Wiest, explained to Tourism Update that in essence, e.DMC provides South African-based DMCs with an Enterprise Management Platform to assist them to reduce costs associated with procurement, database maintenance, reservations, travel documentation, finance processing and hygiene, health and safety standards (managed by Tourvest Verified). “This whilst offering highly competitive static and dynamic rates.”
Wiest pointed out that e.DMC would enable many DMCs to ensure their businesses had relevance into the future.
Mellaart added that the main advantage for DMCs using the new platform was that they could save on all their procurement costs and centralise their business. “This leaves them free to concentrate on sales only, as e.DMC offers the entire procurement, bookings and single supplier payment process.”
e.DMC will allocate a dedicated consultant to assist participating DMCs with the process of bookings, financial administration and final travel documentation.
The e.DMC platform has launched in South Africa and will soon expand into other Southern African destinations, such as Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique, as well as East Africa.
