As we turn the page on another month, we’re excited to bring you the latest updates to Finch. This August, we rolled out new features that will help you stay on top of the many moving pieces that go into building a group work trip, from calendar invites to time zones. Plus, Finch Assist has evolved in powerful new ways. Here’s what’s new:

Calendar Sync: Keep everyone up-to-date

Keeping track of multiple trips, meetings, and events can be a challenge—especially when plans change. That’s why we’re introducing Calendar Sync, a feature designed to keep your schedule and your participants’ schedules in perfect harmony.

• Seamless integration: Set your trip details, toggle on Calendar Sync, and voilà—everyone’s calendar is updated.

• Customizable invites: Planning something special for part of the group? Create custom blocks and only the relevant people will get the invite.

• Real-time updates: Need to make a change? Add or remove participants and their calendars will be updated automatically. Cancel an event? They’ll know.

Calendar Sync ensures that everyone is on the same page, minimising the risk of double-booking or missing important events.

Check out this help article to learn more about how to use calendar sync.

Time zones: It’s about time

Time zones can be a headache when travelling. We’ve been making improvements to how we understand and assign time zones. Finch now automatically defaults the time zone settings on the trip and block level, so you’ll be in sync, no matter where you are—or where you’re headed. 

Finch Assist: Shaping the future of AI trip planning

Last month, we introduced Finch Assist—a groundbreaking AI-driven tool that’s designed to take your travel planning to the next level. Finch Assist is a leap forward in how we think about group travel, particularly for work trips. In our latest blog post, we dive deep into the challenges of existing AI trip planners and share how Finch is reimagining this space. 

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect from Finch Assist:

• Outsource manual work: Forget about the tedious aspects of trip planning. Finch Assist can handle bookings, build itineraries, and manage details with just a few simple prompts.

• Context-aware assistance: Finch Assist remembers your trips and preferences, making it easier to duplicate successful trips or retrieve details for upcoming ones.

• Real-time building: As you give Finch Assist instructions, it will adapt your existing trips in real time. 

• Group-centric planning: As we develop traveller profiles, Finch Assist will become even more adept at catering to individual preferences within a group, ensuring that every trip is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

This is all just the beginning. Our vision for Finch Assist is ambitious. We’re not just adding AI for the sake of it—we’re committed to solving real customer problems faster and more effectively. Imagine a team of hyper-trained AI travel assistants, each specialised in different aspects of trip planning, from budgeting to scheduling. That’s where we’re headed, and we’re eager to take you along for the ride.

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Curious to learn more? Check out the full blog post here, and see how Finch Assist can transform the way you plan your work trips. We’re excited about the future of AI in travel planning, and we’d love to hear your thoughts as we continue to innovate.

That’s it for August! We hope these updates make your travel planning more efficient and enjoyable. As always, we’re here to help you get the most out of Finch. If you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out.