Equinus Independent Reviews 2008/09 Travel Technology Guide
Equinus Independent Supplier Review
Metafour
www.Metafour.com
Based in London with a development office in Bangladesh, Metafour has been developing
industry specific software for nearly 30 years. It was an early creator of a 4GL programming
language with an integrated database. Today its open source software is used by the
Embarque system for tour operators and travel companies. Embarque is a highly functional
and robust solution with the flexibility to handle the demanding requirements of today’s travel
customer.
Embarque functionality can handle a wide range of travel products. It ships with an extensive
array of management information as one would expect from an established and continually
evolving system. It can handle multi-currency costs and selling prices for both dynamically
and traditionally packaged tours and holidays. Online interfaces are handled by Empower,
Metafour’s online booking engine. Empower manages the Galileo interface, both transparent
and PNR grab, as well as ferries (and tunnel) using the Unicorn standard. Accommodation
suppliers have XML feeds and payment card processing and postcode lookup are also routed
through Empower.
Low cost airlines flights can be booked through Empower or via Multicom’s FindandBook.
Online website enquiries route through Empower to deliver real time availability, pricing and
booking confirmations. Metafour has developed its own travel website content management
system, Travelwise, to help customers achieve a successful online presence using the
integrated search engine optimisation and analytics that are such essential tools for converting
visitors into bookers.
Over the past 15 years, Metafour has gained an impressive list of loyal travel customers who
openly acknowledge its technical expertise and industry knowledge. Embarque handles a
wide portfolio of travel products, particularly those that don’t fit into the standard 7 & 14 night
beach holiday model (although it can do that as well). Customers include Arrow Tours,
Intourist, Imaginative Traveller (part of First Choice), Prestige Holidays and Tucan Travel, all of
whom are happy to share their experiences with anyone thinking of implementing a new
system.
Embarque is offered as a fully hosted service with Metafour looking after all the hardware and
software maintenance. Its Docklands data centre has been approved by a major bank and
offers a secure location to host both Embarque and the customer’s website, co-located on an
internet backbone. Hosting is an attractive option, providing a cost effective and professionally
managed IT platform in a highly secure environment.
Metafour firmly believes that today’s travel company needs a flexible system to sell and
administer a wide range of products that are dynamically compiled and priced. They also need
an effective web presence that integrates seamlessly with the core system to deliver visitors
and bookings. By offering a hosted solution, Metafour offers both the business functionality
and a technical platform that is scalable, robust, secure and cost effective. One of Metafour’s
goals is to develop software that’s fit for purpose and delivers bottom line success for its
customers. As Rob Udwin, Metafour’s Business Development Director says: “Happy
customers are the best customers”.
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www.equinus.com
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