DALLAS — After spending more than 25 years building and operating a transportation company, Moses Koktsidis saw firsthand the challenges operators face managing reservations, customer communications and day-to-day operations. Those experiences led him to create BookIT Rides, a reservation and booking platform designed specifically for transportation companies.
Koktsidis, a new member of the United Motorcoach Association, said the platform was born out of necessity within his own operation.
“We initially built the platform for our own operation because we needed a better way to handle reservations, availability, customer communication and the online booking experience,” Koktsidis said. “Once we started using it inside our own company, we quickly realized how valuable it was.”
The software has been used within the company for the past 18 months. According to Koktsidis, the system has transformed operations, with about 70% of bookings now being completed online.
“That is not just a small operational improvement,” he said. “That is a major shift in how a transportation company can capture business, communicate with customers, reduce friction and create a more professional reservation experience.”
‘Revolutionary’ service
BookIT Rides was developed to address what Koktsidis describes as a gap in the industry, where many operators still rely on phone calls, spreadsheets, text messages and other disconnected tools to manage reservations and customer relationships.
Unlike traditional booking tools, the platform is designed as what Koktsidis calls an “operator-first ecosystem,” connecting operators, passengers and affiliate partners through real-time availability, online reservations, customer communications, contracts, payments and pricing controls.
“I truly believe BookIT Rides is revolutionary for our industry,” Koktsidis said. “Not just for limousine operators, but for luxury ground transportation, motorcoach, party bus, black car, shuttle and specialty transportation companies that need a more modern and connected way to do business.”
The platform also aims to help operators address industry challenges such as rising costs, labor shortages, insurance expenses, vehicle maintenance and rising customer expectations for digital services.
“Passengers today expect a smooth digital experience,” Koktsidis said. “They want convenience, communication, confidence and professionalism from the very first interaction.”
Looking ahead, Koktsidis envisions BookIT Rides helping create a \ network of operators that strengthens affiliate relationships while allowing companies to maintain control of their brands, customer relationships and business data.
Joining UMA is part of that effort, he said.
“My goal is to listen, build relationships, contribute value and better understand the needs of motorcoach operators across the country,” Koktsidis said. “What excites me most about the future of the motorcoach industry is the opportunity to modernize without losing the heart of the business. Technology should not replace that. It should strengthen it.”
