A platform inspired by standardised software in the travel industry has been launched to connect language schools with their agent partners worldwide.
Edvisor aims to be a central booking system where schools can communicate their most up to date course prices, accommodation and pre-arrival services to their agent network.
“We’re trying to make it easier for agents to get accurate quotes quickly,” said founder Nicolas Miller. “We care about connecting the schools and the agent directly. They are able to do many more things and build upon it when there is that direct connection.”
“We’re trying to make it easier for agents to get accurate quotes quickly”
After a three-month beta test involving 15 mostly Canadian language schools with 30 campuses and some 30 agencies in Latin America, the platform is now available in five languages in Latin American markets with plans to roll out to the whole industry in the coming months, said Miller.
Schools can use the platform as the one place to communicate market/group specific discounts, promote seasonal pricing and collect data on agency behaviour.
Around 250-300 schools have signed up for the platform already.
Features for agents meanwhile include filtered course searching, direct access to marketing material, and the ability to track students’ applications through live updates.
It also offers agents an internal CRM, which allows them to send customised electronic quotes to students instantly that include photos and videos of the school. According to Miller, some 1,100 agents are already using the service.
Schools pay a monthly fee to use the platform and can involve agent partners who might not be on the platform through a limited number of ‘invites’. Invited agencies pay nothing but agencies who use the CRM are also charged monthly.
Vancouver-based Edvisor launched in 2014 and raised $1m from US investors in its first round of funding to create the platform.
Its launch follows a growing trend to find digital join ups for the fragmented study travel sector and streamline the constant back and forth between schools and their overseas partners.
During the almost two years of development, Miller said booking systems that connect travel agencies and airlines in the global travel industry were inspiration for the platform.
“We’re trying to make it easier for schools to manage their agent network and to create a place where they can share their inventory globally,” he said.
