Travel Planners International and GRASP Technologies Unveil New Agent Platform TPICENTRAL: Platform Projected to Save 100+ Hours a Month

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Oct 05, 2011, 03:52 ET

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Travel Planners International (TPI), a full-service host agency supporting more than 1,800 home-based independent contractors and travel agencies, has just launched TPICENTRAL (www.tpicentral.com), their new agent-only platform that provides instant online information on sales and commissions including robust reporting tools. This will include two new capabilities – an instant commission alert by text or email and on-demand reporting on current and past sales.

The TPI team worked closely with GRASP Technologies over an 18 month period to deliver the new accounting functionality and productivity tools for TPICENTRAL. "We get 25+ calls a day on commission inquiries and report requests, if we want to fuel new growth – we need to streamline support," said Erwing Hernandez, General Manager of Travel Planners International, Inc.

"We've worked with GRASP Technologies for more than seven years, and chose them to develop the integrated accounting tools in TPICENTRAL because they consistently deliver quality and they understand the travel industry," said Hernandez. "This tool delivers efficiency for both TPI and the agent, and the GRASP team was always on the same page, almost like they were able to read our minds. They gave us alternatives when needed, and together with them, we've been able to deliver a tool that gives us a competitive advantage."

"Travel Planners International now has developed a tool with which no one can compete – it is a central information hub integrating TRAMS, Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan," explained Erik Mueller, CEO of GRASP Technologies. "We enjoy helping clients overcome business challenges and TPI has addressed a key challenge with this new platform."

"It's certainly a game changer, with TPICENTRAL providing our agents with instant information most important to them – their earned commission. By listening to our agents, we utilized resources to develop technology that keeps them in full control of their business. We live in a 24/7 world and for an agent to receive a text or email alert when the commission hits our office, it's not just cool, it actually eliminates an inquiry to our accounting department and lets the agent focus on selling travel versus hunting down a commission," said Ken Gagliano, President of Travel Planners International, Inc.

About Grasp Technologies (www.grasptechnologies.com)

Grasp Technologies are experts at helping companies worldwide know the unknowable by creating custom solutions that help them quickly adapt to constantly changing business climate and customer needs. With more than six core products and an arsenal of custom solutions, GRASP is a leading provider of data technology for the travel industry and other industries throughout the world. Erik Mueller, founder and CEO of Grasp, often says that "There is nothing we cannot do with data!" Founded in 1996, Grasp provides unmatched customer service and serves as an ongoing source of knowledge and expertise for both customers and anyone in need of data and technology support. Grasp has offices in both San Diego, CA and Columbus, OH.

About Travel Planners International (www.myhosttravelagency.com)

Travel Planners International is a full service host travel agency, supporting home-based independent contractors and travel agencies since 1988.

SOURCE Grasp Technologies