Innovations within the travel industry: the power of collaboration between SBA and Uniglobe Alliance Travel
In a world where technology is evolving at lightning speed, collaborations focused on innovation are essential to providing customers with the best possible experience. At SBA, we are proud to work with Uniglobe Alliance Travel on solutions that transform the travel industry. In this partnership, we unite our knowledge of IT with Uniglobe Alliance Travel’s travel expertise, laying the foundation for a future where business travel becomes easier, more efficient and more sustainable.
A unique back office system as the basis for success
The first major step within this partnership was the development of a fully customized back office system for Uniglobe Alliance Travel. With SBA’s expertise, we have created a flexible and user-friendly platform that both meets the high demands of the travel industry and is ready for further expansion and innovation. The system streamlines administrative processes, simplifies bookings and ensures efficient communication between all parties involved. This allows Uniglobe Alliance Travel’s consultants to focus on what they do best: organizing business travel.
Data security as a priority at Uniglobe Alliance Travel
Given the high volume of personal data Uniglobe Alliance Travel processes, data security is high on the agenda. Carefully managing and securing customer data is essential to ensure traveler privacy. Uniglobe therefore maintains strict security protocols and invests in the latest security technologies to ensure that data is safely stored, managed and protected. This focus on data and privacy protection is crucial in an industry where handling sensitive information is daily business.
Sustainability and carbon insights for more conscious travel
In addition, sustainability is playing an increasing role within the travel industry these days. SBA and Uniglobe Alliance Travel are capitalizing on this development by allowing customers to make more conscious travel choices. Through smart calculations, we offer insight into the carbon emissions associated with each trip. This transparency enables Uniglobe customers to actively manage sustainable choices and offset emissions where possible. Monitoring this impact is a tool for Uniglobe Alliance Travel’s clients to achieve their climate goals. This makes travel not only more efficient, but also more sustainable.
The Future: AI in the travel industry
Within our collaboration, we are now focusing on the next step: the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). We are currently in a testing phase to explore how AI can contribute to Uniglobe Alliance Travel’s services. By applying AI, we hope to not only further optimize internal processes, but most importantly, improve the customer experience. For example, we are exploring how AI can help tailor travel recommendations even better to customers’ individual needs. Through machine learning and data mining, we can discover patterns in customer preferences and offer personalized travel recommendations based on them.
Moving Forward Together
By combining our unique expertise, together we take steps that not only benefit the organizations, but also have a positive impact on the travel industry as a whole. We look forward to the future where we will continue to work together on groundbreaking solutions.
SBA sponsors the clock at tennis club Hiaten
There is a new clock above court 1 at tennis club Hiaten, and our name is on it. A clock at a tennis park is not a billboard: it is the thing everyone looks at exactly when it matters. When does the next round start, how much longer will this match take, will we finish before the light goes.
That is why it suits us. Service is about timing. An incident picked up within minutes is a different story from the same incident left for half a day; a migration in the weekend goes unnoticed, the same migration on a Tuesday morning is noticed by everyone. What we sell is not so much technology as the certainty that someone looks in time.
Why a tennis club?
SBA is based in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, and T.V. Hiaten is the club around the corner. A good part of our customers are exactly this kind of organization: no IT department of their own, but people who keep everything running next to their day job — the membership records, the court booking system, the website, the till in the clubhouse. Anyone who has ever volunteered at a club knows it: most of the work is invisible, until the one time it was not done.
That is also why we did not choose a board along the court. A board hangs there; a clock does something, every minute, for everyone at the park. Sponsorship that is useful suits us better than sponsorship that stands out.
What timing means in IT
The comparison with our work is less far-fetched than it sounds. Three examples from an ordinary week:
- The 8:52 incident. Eight minutes before the shop opens the till stops working. Someone on the line within a quarter of an hour, or only after lunch — that is the difference between an anecdote and a lost morning.
- The Saturday night migration. Moving servers, migrating mailboxes, a new firewall: planned in the weekend, nobody notices. The same work on a weekday morning brings a company to a halt. The work is the same; the timing is the product.
- The update that can wait — and the patch that cannot. Part of our trade is knowing what must happen today and what may wait until next week. A vulnerability with an active exploit is a today thing, always.
A site of its own for the story
The sponsorship comes with a small separate story at hiaten.sba.nl: one page, with a clock running live — the same time as above court 1 — and the story behind the sponsorship.
That page is deliberately also a small showcase of how we build. No theme from a catalogue, no page builder, no cookie wall: a hand-designed page that loads in a fraction of a second, works on a phone as well as on a large screen, and whose clock simply reads the system time of your own device — no server needed, no tracking, always right.
Come and have a look
If you play at Hiaten, or visit the park some time: now you know where to read the time. And if you would like to know what we can do with timing in your IT — from a servicedesk that answers to a migration nobody notices: call 088 340 0047, or ask your question right here in the conversation.
Why “shutting down” your workstation is not always really shutting down
What is Fast Startup?
Fast Startup is a Windows feature that makes your PC boot faster by not fully shutting down the system, but putting part of it into a kind of hibernation.
Why can this disrupt updates?
Because the system never fully shuts down, some updates are never properly completed. Your workstation seems up to date, but is not.
What should you do?
Restart your workstation regularly — a restart does perform a full shutdown — or ask us to configure this correctly for you.
Always up to date
With our workplace management your systems stay up to date without you having to think about it.
Why “shutting down” your workstation is not always really shutting down
What is Fast Startup?
Fast Startup is a Windows feature that makes your PC boot faster by not fully shutting down the system, but putting part of it into a kind of hibernation.
Why can this disrupt updates?
Because the system never fully shuts down, some updates are never properly completed. Your workstation seems up to date, but is not.
What should you do?
Restart your workstation regularly — a restart does perform a full shutdown — or ask us to configure this correctly for you.
Always up to date
With our workplace management your systems stay up to date without you having to think about it.
Windows 10 is retiring: what you need to know before October 2025
What does ‘no more support’ mean?
From October 2025, Windows 10 no longer receives security updates. Your PC keeps working, but new vulnerabilities are no longer fixed.
Why is Microsoft doing this anyway?
Microsoft focuses its development and security efforts on Windows 11 and newer platforms.
What now? Do you need a new laptop right away?
Not necessarily: many devices can be upgraded to Windows 11. We are happy to check which of your devices qualify.
And if you just do nothing?
Then your risk grows month by month. Especially for business use, that is not a responsible choice.
The rise of Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
What is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a website that behaves like an app: installable, fast and partly usable offline.
The advantages at a glance
- One code base for all platforms
- No app store needed
- Always up to date
The disadvantages at a glance
- Less access to device functions than native apps
- Support differs per browser and platform
In closing
For many business applications a PWA is a smart, cost-efficient choice. We are happy to think along about whether it fits your case.
What are IP addresses and how do they work?
What is the difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
An IP address is the address of a device on a network. IPv4 uses four number groups and is running out of addresses; IPv6 is the newer standard with a practically unlimited address space.
What does this mean for you?
For most users the transition happens invisibly, but for business networks a good configuration matters — for security and reachability alike.
In closing
Questions about your network setup? We are happy to take a look with you.
SBA turns 20! – what now?
A look at the future
SBA turns 20! Two decades of building, automating and managing IT solutions — and we are far from done.
A hint of what is coming
We are working on new web applications, smarter automation and AI that genuinely helps in daily work.
Far from done
Thanks to our customers and our team: here’s to the next 20 years!
Sander’s view on the future of work
A glimpse of the future
With devices like the Apple Vision Pro, a new way of working is emerging: screens wherever you want them, and digital and physical work blending together.
Potential that sparks enthusiasm
Sander sees potential especially in collaboration and visualisation: walking through data instead of scrolling through it.
Thinking concretely about applications
From servicedesk dashboards to remote support with a virtual look over your shoulder: we are already thinking concretely about applications for our customers.
Following protocols in an ISO 27001 certified organization
If your organization is ISO 27001 certified, it means that you take information security very seriously. And let’s be honest: that’s something to be proud of! ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management and shows that your company meets strict requirements in the field of data security.
But, a certificate is more than just a nice piece of paper on the wall. It is only truly effective if everyone within the organization adheres to the established protocols. And yes, we know: those extra steps can sometimes feel a bit cumbersome. But every little action – from strong passwords to correctly handling sensitive data – contributes to protecting company information and helps minimize risks such as data leaks or cyber attacks.
How do you get colleagues involved in information security policy?
The big question is: how do you ensure that everyone actually follows the policy? Many employees quickly see protocols as ‘more work’ or do not always understand why they are important. The trick is to make information security tangible and increase the involvement of your employees. Compliance with policy should not be boring or mandatory; you can actually present it in a fun and interactive way. This creates a culture in which everyone feels responsible for the security of company data. Here are some concrete tips to bring your policy to life and get employees excited:
1. Organize regular awareness sessions
Organizing periodic awareness sessions is an excellent way to highlight important information security topics. Choose a specific theme for each session, such as phishing, the importance of strong passwords or secure file sharing.
If you want to make these sessions truly memorable, consider inviting an ethical hacker. Nothing makes the importance of strong security policies more tangible than a live demonstration of how a hack actually works. When employees see first-hand how easy it can be to breach a network, they will gain a much greater understanding of the need for protocols.
Such a session with an ethical hacker immediately makes it clear why it is essential to regularly change passwords, send sensitive information encrypted and always be alert to suspicious emails or links. In this way, information security is not just an abstract concept, but something they want to actively apply.
2. Hold internal challenges and organize a quiz
Want to make it really fun? Try a quiz or internal challenge to gauge your employees’ knowledge level. Let colleagues test their knowledge of the most important security measures and protocols in a playful way.
For example, who knows the most about the correct handling of confidential documents? Or who is the fastest at recognizing a phishing email? You can add a competitive element by awarding points and handing out prizes to the “Security Heroes” of the month. This makes following policy fun and ensures that everyone remains involved in the subject. It becomes a kind of “sport” to keep yourself and your colleagues sharp in the field of information security. In addition, such a quiz ensures that you can immediately measure how well informed your employees are and where knowledge may still need to be brushed up.
3. Reward good behavior and share tips
Another powerful way to get policy to stick is to reward good behavior. Recognize and acknowledge employees who follow the protocols correctly. This can be done simply by naming them in an internal newsletter or giving them a short shout-out during a team meeting. These small gestures of recognition can go a long way to increasing involvement.
You can also involve employees in improving security policy by inviting them to share their own tips and ideas. This not only increases their involvement, but also makes security more alive within the organization. They might even come up with an idea that you hadn’t thought of!
Make Information Security a Team Effort
Information security in the modern workplace should not be a task that only the IT department has to handle. It is a team effort. Everyone plays a crucial role in keeping company information safe and should be aware of the risks and consequences of negligence. By making the policy tangible and fun, you create a culture in which everyone feels responsible for information security. This not only increases the security of your organization, but also ensures that the ISO 27001 certification really adds value. Make compliance with the protocols a sport instead of an obligation.