Recent data increasingly shows travel companies are drowning in fragmented systems as AI raises expectations for automation and profitability – TripWorks says 2026 will force consolidation across the sector
NEW YORK, NY, Mar. 11, 2026 – TripWorks, the AI- and business intelligence-driven booking and automation platform for tours, activities, and attractions operators, today issued a warning that the travel industry is heading into a decisive consolidation phase as AI accelerates a long‑brewing SaaS shakeout. New research shows travel agencies and operators are relying on an unsustainable number of disconnected systems – a fragmentation problem that is driving up costs, eroding margins, and undermining customer experience.
Recent studies reveal the scale of the issue:
- 91% of travel agencies now operate with four or more booking systems, and more than half use seven or more, creating operational sprawl and rising costs[i].
- 34% of global travel leaders cite technology fragmentation as the sector’s single biggest challenge, ahead of demand or competition[ii].
- Travel is now one of the most fragmented industries globally, according to a recent study, and fragmentation is actively preventing AI from delivering value across the traveler journey[iii] – a point echoed by Forbes, which warned that companies are “hitting a wall” because AI systems can’t operate effectively across disconnected tools and data silos[iv].
At the same time, AI is rapidly reshaping expectations across the travel ecosystem. As automation becomes table stakes, operators are under pressure to streamline their tech stacks and adopt platforms capable of delivering measurable efficiency gains.
“We’re entering the consolidation era of travel SaaS,” said Aaron Fessler, CEO and founder of TripWorks. “Operators are exhausted by juggling five, ten, sometimes fifteen different tools. AI is exposing the inefficiencies in that model. The winners in 2026 will be the platforms that unify the workflow, automate the busywork, and actually improve margins – not add to the chaos.”
Fessler emphasized that the so‑called “SaaS apocalypse” is not about software disappearing, but about software finally being forced to deliver value.
“AI is replacing the bloated tech stacks that slow them down,” he added. “The future belongs to lean, intelligent platforms that help businesses grow, not drown them in subscriptions.”
TripWorks argues that the travel sector’s fragmentation problem has reached a breaking point.
“With agencies and operators managing multiple booking systems, APIs, and disconnected tools, the industry is primed for a shift toward integrated, AI‑native platforms that centralize operations, payments, marketing, and customer engagement,” said Fessler. “As travel demand continues to rebound and competition intensifies, we predict that 2026 will be the year operators aggressively consolidate their technology – and that the platforms built for automation, profitability, and simplicity will define the next decade of travel technology.
Fessler also stressed that consolidation alone won’t solve the industry’s challenges if it pushes operators toward fully automated service models; while AI is now indispensable for scale and efficiency, the tours and activities sector still relies on human judgment.
“AI should eliminate the repetitive work and surface better decisions, but it can’t replace the people who understand the nuances of running experiences in the real world,” he said. “At the heart of every great trip is a human being who cares – someone who can read a moment, reassure a guest or solve a problem with empathy. Technology becomes far more powerful when it helps those people shine.”
About TripWorks
Founded in 2019, TripWorks is an AI-driven, enterprise-grade booking, automation, and business intelligence platform for tours, activities, attractions, and experience operators. Built by operators, for operators, TripWorks combines cutting-edge technology with powerful analytics, dynamic pricing, and smart automation tools to help operators streamline operations and increase revenue. Learn more at tripworks.com.