IBS Group has launched Naviq Technology as an independent AI-focused business for travel, combining sector expertise with ambitions for global expansion.
IBS Group has launched Naviq Technology, a new vertical AI company focused on the global travel sector, spanning aviation, cruise, hospitality, logistics and online travel. Naviq will draw on the travel technology expertise of IBS Software while operating independently from its affiliate companies within the IBS Group. The launch places specialised artificial intelligence and industry knowledge at the centre of a new business intended to support operational change and customer experience programmes across travel.
The company is being positioned around a travel market in which airlines, airports, cruise lines, vacation providers and hospitality groups are seeking to modernise operations and adopt AI at scale. According to the release, Naviq will work with those organisations on large business transformations, with a focus on improving efficiency, personalising end-user experiences, unlocking revenue opportunities and shortening time-to-value. Its stated areas of focus include AI adoption, customer experience transformation and the use of data to support intelligent operations.
Naviq began operations on July 9, 2026, with 16 offices already established worldwide, according to the announcement. The business will complement IBS Software’s customer network and travel industry experience, while serving as a preferred implementation and transformation partner for IBS Software clients. The release also said that Naviq’s delivery model is intended to make implementations faster, although it did not provide commercial terms, product pricing or details of individual customer contracts.
The launch also sets out a substantial hiring and investment plan. Naviq’s business plan envisages growing from its 16 centres to more than 5,000 high-tech professionals over the next five years, while IBS Group plans to invest significantly during that period to expand the company’s capabilities. The proposed workforce is expected to include AI researchers, data scientists and travel subject-matter specialists, reflecting a model that combines applied AI with domain-specific technology expertise.
For IBS Group, Naviq creates a dedicated structure for pursuing travel transformation work while retaining access to the wider group’s industry knowledge and relationships. The announcement describes the company as a focused technology and consulting partner for organisations moving from AI experimentation towards scaled implementation, but does not quantify expected revenue or customer impact. Its immediate significance lies in the formal separation of an AI-first travel proposition into an independent business with a global operating footprint and a stated long-term expansion plan.
