In a move that signals a brave new world for business travel—where artificial intelligence doesn’t just arrive, but pulls up a chair and offers you a coffee—BCD Travel has officially expanded its partnership with travel tech firm Oversee. The pair are rolling out a purpose-built “agentic AI” platform designed not to replace human agents, but to work alongside them, shoulder-to-shoulder, inbox-to-inbox.
For those still reeling from ChatGPT’s holiday card-writing capabilities, “agentic AI” might sound like another buzzword to be filed away with blockchain and “synergy.” But rest assured—this one earns its keep.
Following a successful pilot across several markets, the platform has already proven its mettle by automating the dull but necessary: booking requests, flight exchanges, and the ever-glamorous shell PNR creation. The result? BCD agents now spend less time chained to email threads and more time offering the thoughtful, high-touch support clients still crave.
“We’re continuously evolving to meet the needs of today’s business travellers,” said Yannis Karmis, senior vice president of Product Planning & Development at BCD Travel. “Our partnership with Oversee aligns with our strategic focus on digital transformation, allowing us to automate intelligently while maintaining the personal service travellers expect.”
And therein lies the rub: automation, yes, but never at the expense of the human experience. As any seasoned road warrior will tell you, it’s not just about getting from A to B—it’s about the assurance that someone’s got your back when flights are delayed, bookings go awry, or a connection gets cancelled in Kathmandu.
Aviel Siman-Tov, the CEO and co-founder of Oversee, is all too aware of that fact. “Our agentic AI solution has been purpose-built to support the unique workflows of travel management companies,” he said. “Together with BCD, we’re proving how AI can enhance—not replace—the human side of travel management.”
It’s not just a matter of speeding things up, though the increased adherence to service-level agreements (SLAs) across pilot markets is a tick in the ‘win’ column. No, the real story here is about quality. Faster, yes—but more accurate, more consistent, and, crucially, still wrapped in that irreplaceable human touch.
This is not a call centre replacement. It’s a command centre enhancement.
Aviel Siman-Tov
For BCD Travel—a giant in the global corporate travel space with clients in over 100 countries—this evolution is part of a broader push towards operational resilience and scalable, future-ready service models. And let’s be honest: in a post-pandemic world where travel rules change faster than an airport departure board, resilience isn’t a luxury—it’s a requirement.
In practical terms, the integration of agentic AI allows for round-the-clock response capability, global consistency, and a reimagining of what travel agents can do when freed from the shackles of inbox overload.
The partnership is not just about technical transformation but strategic clarity. By leaning into AI for the grunt work, BCD is redefining the agent’s role as less administrative and more consultative—more concierge than clerk.
As travel becomes ever more complex—with climate volatility, shifting visa regulations, and the rise of “bleisure” (business-leisure) trips—clients are looking for travel partners who can offer insight and agility. BCD’s alliance with Oversee positions them to do precisely that, and to do it at scale.
“This is about building foundational AI capabilities that empower travel agents, streamline operations and elevate traveller satisfaction,” the two companies stated jointly.
In other words, BCD isn’t handing the reins to a robot—it’s teaching the robot to saddle the horse, while the human guides the journey.
That’s very good news indeed for travellers who’ve ever waited three business days for a simple confirmation.
