Ahead of his speaking on the WIT Main Stage on Tuesday, October 24, Oliver Heckmann, Vice President, Engineering for Travel and Shopping, Google, shares what’s top of his mind on how new technology such machine learning/AI and voice can make better travel.

Oliver Heckmann: “About 50% of the content online is in English, but only 20% of the world’s population speaks English. That’s why translations matter, particularly in Asia where there’s a huge diversity in languages. For instance in India, we recently expanded translation support for seven Indian languages, and saw a 55% increase of app users in just a couple of days.”

Q: As you get set for to speak at WIT 2017, what’s occupying your mind right now about the travel industry?

I’m really looking forward to connecting with others in the industry, and learning first-hand about how consumers are engaging with travel products in Asia. Asia is ahead of many parts of the world when it comes to mobile, and that impacts everything from consumer expectations for faster, more seamless experiences to how we structure information in our products and how companies can assist travelers and improve the customer journey across screens and devices.

Q: As VP engineering for travel in the world’s largest search and tech company, how do you think tech has made travel better generally in the last year?

A: As an industry, I see us getting better at delivering better insights to consumers, experimenting with business models and embracing new technology. Companies like MakemyTrip offer seamless mobile experiences to customers living outside of major cities or those using lower-end devices in India with Progressive Web Apps, and players like Grab, Ola and GoJek are transforming ride hailing on regional levels. Many other new start-ups bring competition, which is always good. The abundance of options and activity ensures that all those in online travel need to stay as user-focused and innovative as possible, which is a great outcome for all.

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