eTrawler (ArgusCarHire.com) - Gregory Turley

www.etrawler.com
www.arguscarhire.com

Foundation & Location
ETrawler is a travel technology group headquartered in Ireland that develops pioneering web based car hire reservation technology. Founded by CEO Greg Turley in 1996 ETrawler operates and manages two distinct divisions to market this unique intelligent technology; firstly to consumers through ArgusCarHire.com and secondly a business-to-business division CarTrawler.com, marketing a white label version of this advanced technology to strategic global partners.

Employees / Suppliers
ETrawler employs 20 people directly in Ireland, Global suppliers total almost 100, and active marketing partners currently total over 200 and are growing rapidly.

Customers / Industry
Back in 1996 Greg saw the opportunities that the web offered consumers searching for cheap car hire and launched the first English speaking car hire website in Europe ‘ArgusCarHire.com’. ETrawler’s success can be attributed to consistently developing and launching pioneering technology. In 2003 ETrawler technology achieved another international breakthrough with the release of a unique “3 clicks to confirmation” system. This technology combined with best value all-inclusive pricing has secured a growing army of customers searching for the best deals in car hire. ETrawler currently sells car hire in over 70 countries worldwide offering over 6,000 locations. In January 2005 a business-to-business division was launched ‘CarTrawler.com’, to market a white label version of this advanced technology to strategic global partners. Since it launch CarTrawler has recruited over 200 partners in 20 different countries.

Unique Product Features
ETrawler technology is now transforming the way car hire is purchased internationally and managed on-line and is rapidly becoming the new car hire reservations industry standard in on-line travel booking and reservation (GDS*) marketplace.
* GDS: Global Distribution Systems -- an international computer reservation system that accesses databases of travel trade products, suppliers, airlines, accommodation groups etc. in different countries e.g. Sabre, Amadeus, Galileo & Worldspan.

Benefit to Customers

For customers:

• Cheap Car Hire ; this pioneering technology sources the cheapest all-inclusive rates available in over 6,000 destinations worldwide.
• Fast & Easy & Secure car hire reservations ; a greatly simplifying booking process. In just 3 clicks a customer has a confirmed car hire reservation.

For car hire providers:

• Free access to the most globally advanced car hire technology
• Customisable – CarTrawler partners can brand this technology in their own corporate livery
• New income stream - a comprehensive car hire solution including booking engine, fully automated account management and reporting systems delivering profitable new business.

Scale of Achievement
In a decade that saw some of the biggest on-line brands go bust, ArgusCarHire.com, part of ETrawler Technology Group has consistently outperformed global markets managing outstanding growth to become a top three global car hire provider. ETrawler has always set highly challenging growth & profit targets since its inception and has consistently met these projected targets. Ten months after the soft launch of the booking engine, ArgusCarHire.com’s year on year bookings are growing at an annual rate of more than 245%. More than 200 globally strategic partners have been signed up by CarTrawler. The next twelve month aggressive growth target of 530% is on target. With additional resources in place we plan to increase these figures by over 70% by the end of quarter 1, 2006 .

Innovation/Creativity - What aspects of your operation do you regard as being particularly creative or innovative?
Driving innovation in intelligent technology and ensuring that the application of this technology is “first-to-market” is a core business objective. ETrawler is changing the way that travel is bought and sold globally and has consistently pioneered market breakthroughs including:

• 1996 ArgusCarHire.com was first English language car hire web site to launch in Europe
• 1999 ArgusCarHire.com was first European car hire web site to launch quotation and booking technology facility
• 2000 ArgusCarHire.com was first European car hire web site with WAP phone interface. (This did not take off due to slow implication of 3G)
• In 2003 ArgusCarHire.com launched pioneering base technology, specifically the user interface.
• In 2004 ArgusCarHire.com was first car hire provider to launch a unique “3 clicks to confirmation” system offering consumers fast access to cheap all inclusive car hire deals .
• In October 2005 – C arTrawler.com will become the first worldwide car-rental company to offer its services on the iMode phone to web interface - This will be launched in the UK and Ireland by 02 on 18 October 2005.

Initial Expansion - How did your initial phase of market expansion occur?
Our initial move to the web was inspired by effectively being economically locked-out of the GDS (Global Distribution Systems) -- essential for international exposure.  

Obstacles overcome - What are the toughest issues you deal with as you continue to grow your business?
Technology Challenges: Too many to mention but all overcome by applying real world commercial logic and a singular focus on real customer and provider benefits in the search for solutions. Not to mention proving the technology ourselves everyday in our own business!

Travel Trade Attitude to Technology Innovation: The international travel trade has traditionally and inexplicably been comfortable with the expensive and cumbersome old world systems and has been wary of trying out new technology solutions. By showcasing both the technology and the associated dramatic commercial and customer benefits of our own consumer web based business ArgusCarHire.com this roadblock has been removed.

Industry Reluctance to deal with “Small” Supplier on Critical Technology: Initial Industry scepticism on dealing with a relatively small supplier for mission critical technology solutions has been overcome again by demonstrating the real business and customer benefits on our own consumer business ArgusCarHire.com as well as the growing number of car rental businesses worldwide deploying this new GDS.

Organisational Culture - How would you define the culture within your organisation?
A forward thinking, dynamic, democratic, hard working, customer focused culture with a “to do, can do and am doing” attitude towards work. ETrawler has been described as a young, vibrant, energetic and technology friendly workplace.

Impact on Lifestyle - How do you recharge your batteries (hobbies, sports, family)?With increasing business commitments I have less and less free time. My wife Audrey and my three-year-old daughter Sarah keep me busy. With the little free time I have left I enjoy:

• The great outdoor life – fishing and hunting
• Motor Sports – I have participated competitively in production saloon motor sports over the years.
• Sports – I love all sports particularly Rugby.
• Golf – A beginner but finding it difficult to find the time to perfect the sport.
• Music – I like all music and have a very large library of records and CD’s.

Role Model - Have you a role model who has influenced your approach to business?
My father, Joe, has been my greatest role model. He single handedly ran a successfully business while rearing a very young and large family on his own. He constantly overcame obstacles, kept a positive attitude and has never been afraid of hard work or getting his hands dirty.