‘The
two areas of artificial intelligence that we focus on: 1. Personalization; 2.
Customer Service; are horizontal products.
What I mean by this is personalization answers a universal question of
“what is the right product or service” for an individual customer. Whether the product is a credit card, an
insurance plan, or even a type of toothpaste – we can assist any business to
advise their customers when choosing among multiple products.’- Josh
Ziegler, CEO of ZUMATA.
two areas of artificial intelligence that we focus on: 1. Personalization; 2.
Customer Service; are horizontal products.
What I mean by this is personalization answers a universal question of
“what is the right product or service” for an individual customer. Whether the product is a credit card, an
insurance plan, or even a type of toothpaste – we can assist any business to
advise their customers when choosing among multiple products.’- Josh
Ziegler, CEO of ZUMATA.
ZUMATA is the only artificial
intelligence powered hotel distribution and technology company. Through
partnerships with IBM Watson, Expedia, Amadeus and DHISCO, ZUMATA solves a
wealth of hotel distribution challenges. In addition to hotel distribution and travel
technology, ZUMATA is using its cognitive capabilities to enable automated
advisory and customer service to companies within a wide range of industries
including travel, banking, finance, and more.
intelligence powered hotel distribution and technology company. Through
partnerships with IBM Watson, Expedia, Amadeus and DHISCO, ZUMATA solves a
wealth of hotel distribution challenges. In addition to hotel distribution and travel
technology, ZUMATA is using its cognitive capabilities to enable automated
advisory and customer service to companies within a wide range of industries
including travel, banking, finance, and more.
In an exclusive email interaction with
Startup Terminal; Josh Ziegler, CEO of
ZUMATA tells more about the venture and future plans.
Startup Terminal; Josh Ziegler, CEO of
ZUMATA tells more about the venture and future plans.
Excerpts:
 |
| Josh Ziegler, CEO of ZUMATA |
ST:
Please tell us more about your organization.
Please tell us more about your organization.
Josh Ziegler: ZUMATA is a technology company focused
on hotel inventory distribution and artificial intelligence as it relates to
personalization and customer service.
on hotel inventory distribution and artificial intelligence as it relates to
personalization and customer service.
ST:
What was your idea/inspiration behind starting up a new venture?
What was your idea/inspiration behind starting up a new venture?
Josh Ziegler: The concept originated from customers
of a previous business that focused on providing membership programs and
discounts in the restaurants, spa, and local services. The corporate customers we had were looking
for ways to secure discounts in relation to travel. Upon investigation, we stumbled upon a huge
opportunity to leverage technology to solve problems that were pervasive across
the entire travel spectrum to include discount providers, corporate travel,
leisure travel, on and offline travel agencies.
of a previous business that focused on providing membership programs and
discounts in the restaurants, spa, and local services. The corporate customers we had were looking
for ways to secure discounts in relation to travel. Upon investigation, we stumbled upon a huge
opportunity to leverage technology to solve problems that were pervasive across
the entire travel spectrum to include discount providers, corporate travel,
leisure travel, on and offline travel agencies.
ST:
What business opportunities do you see in Asia particularly in your sector?
What business opportunities do you see in Asia particularly in your sector?
Josh Ziegler: The two areas of artificial
intelligence that we focus on: 1. Personalization; 2. Customer Service; are horizontal
products. What I mean by this is
personalization answers a universal question of “what is the right product or
service” for an individual customer.
Whether the product is a credit card, an insurance plan, or even a type
of toothpaste – we can assist any business to advise their customers when
choosing among multiple products.
intelligence that we focus on: 1. Personalization; 2. Customer Service; are horizontal
products. What I mean by this is
personalization answers a universal question of “what is the right product or
service” for an individual customer.
Whether the product is a credit card, an insurance plan, or even a type
of toothpaste – we can assist any business to advise their customers when
choosing among multiple products.
In terms of customer service, we can
assist companies to automate their interactions with customers via any channel
whether that’s phone, email, chat message, etc.
Once again, our technology can assist any company that has a need to
communicate with their customers. As
such, I think the opportunity in Asia is exceedingly large.
assist companies to automate their interactions with customers via any channel
whether that’s phone, email, chat message, etc.
Once again, our technology can assist any company that has a need to
communicate with their customers. As
such, I think the opportunity in Asia is exceedingly large.
ST:
How has been your entrepreneurship journey so far?
How has been your entrepreneurship journey so far?
Josh Ziegler: It’s been exciting, disappointing,
thrilling, heartbreaking, tiring, hugely challenging, extremely educational,
and one of the most rewarding and difficult things I’ve ever done.
thrilling, heartbreaking, tiring, hugely challenging, extremely educational,
and one of the most rewarding and difficult things I’ve ever done.
ST:
What challenges do you face in your day to day professional life, if any?
What challenges do you face in your day to day professional life, if any?
Josh Ziegler: The biggest challenge is prioritization,
matching time allocation to the appropriate opportunities, and deciding which
opportunities and strategies to pursue.
The opportunity ahead is immense, and yet focus is required to narrow
the scope to succeed.
matching time allocation to the appropriate opportunities, and deciding which
opportunities and strategies to pursue.
The opportunity ahead is immense, and yet focus is required to narrow
the scope to succeed.
ST:
How big is your team? Are you planning to hire more?
How big is your team? Are you planning to hire more?
Josh Ziegler: The team is roughly 30 people, and
we’re continually hiring. We have a
great team, but finding top quality talent that has the right combination of
attitude, teamwork, dedication, passion, and top caliber skills is an ongoing
struggle.
we’re continually hiring. We have a
great team, but finding top quality talent that has the right combination of
attitude, teamwork, dedication, passion, and top caliber skills is an ongoing
struggle.
ST:
What are your future plans?
What are your future plans?
Josh Ziegler: Our main goal for now is executing on
the deals we already have in place.
We’re working with some of the world’s largest players – Paytm, Expedia,
Amadeus, IBM, etc. – and we are seeking to deliver the highest quality products
while exceeding expectations.
the deals we already have in place.
We’re working with some of the world’s largest players – Paytm, Expedia,
Amadeus, IBM, etc. – and we are seeking to deliver the highest quality products
while exceeding expectations.
