ebookers moves to ditch offline operations

Travel website ebookers is pushing ahead with its strategy of driving most of its business online with a new service that allows broadband users to speak with sales staff through their PC.

The free facility has been launched on the firm's UK website and broadband users surfing ebookers can click on the "click to talk" option, which will automatically connect them via their computer speakers and microphone to an ebookers rep who can assist them while they put together a holiday package.

Dial-up internet users can also use the facility but will instead be asked to enter a phone number that a sales person can call back on straight away to assist them – much like the traditional call-back facilities.

Yashish Dahiya, head of UK business at ebookers, told silicon.com that more business will be driven online, and that the company will stop advertising in the classified sections of newspapers by the end of the year.

"This is about integrating our online and web-generated channels," he said. "It is part of a larger picture. We want to get out of retail as soon as possible and we want to reduce direct call centres over time."

ebookers has also signed a deal with VRX Studios for interactive destination content that will provide online customers with destination information for various holiday locations, including 360-degree virtual tours and interactive maps.

Back in May ebookers has announced job cuts in India and Europe, despite reporting a 47 per cent increase in sales for the first quarter of 2004.