Cruise Planners has introduced two skills for the Amazon
Echo's virtual personal assistant, Alexa.
One is designed for consumers to learn more about cruise
lines and ships, and one is for agents to gain access to the back-office system
via voice technology.
The skills were announced during Cruise Planners' annual
convention in Cancun.
Both skills can be activated via the user's Alexa app. The
consumer-facing skill is called Cruise Planners, and the agent-facing skill is
called CP Maxx (the technology solution, which features booking and a customer
relationship management system, has the same name and was also introduced at
the convention).
The Cruise Planners skill enables consumers to learn more
about 100 ships, with more to come.
The CP Maxx skill enables agents to access their back-office
system via Alexa, and ask for things like upcoming departures or upcoming
payments. CEO Michelle Fee said it is designed to act as a "virtual
assistant" specific to agents' needs.