IBS Group spins off AI company Naviq for travel tech

IBS Group is launching a new AI company focused on the global travel industry. The unit, called Naviq Technology, will operate independently from the group's other affiliates. It draws on the decades of travel-domain expertise built by IBS Software, the group's existing technology arm.

V K Mathews, founder and executive chairman of IBS Group, said the travel industry is at a turning point. "Organisations are seeking smarter ways to operate and future-proof their businesses," he said. "Naviq Technology gives the market something it has not had before: a technology and consulting company that understands the complexities of global travel, anticipates industry challenges, and offers transformative solutions at scale using specialised AI tools."

Naviq's focus will be on areas where the biggest travel-industry investment is expected in the coming years: AI adoption at scale and customer experience transformation, with data as the foundation for intelligent operations. The company's delivery model is designed to shorten implementation timelines and reduce the time to value, the group said.

IBS Group's move is a bet that the combination of deep domain knowledge and a dedicated AI-first consulting and technology unit will differentiate it from competitors. Many travel-tech providers have added AI tools to existing platforms. Naviq is built as a separate entity, with its own 16 offices already established globally. It will start operations immediately, targeting airlines, airports, cruise lines, vacation providers, and hospitality groups.

Chief Minister V D Satheesan will inaugurate Naviq's new campus at Infopark in Kochi on July 23.